The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Dec. 11-16, 2023
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
(Men)Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage;
(Women)rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
(Men)And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
(Women) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
(Men)that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
(Women)and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
(All)to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11, NIV)
Confession
Dear Lord, thank you for your word. It calls us to look into our own hearts. We admit our selfish ambition and conceit, arrogance and pride, our indifference to other’s interests. We are full of our own selves. Yes, we need to come to empty ourselves, and to confess our missing of your glory. Please forgive us. Come to refill with your humility, love, tenderness, empathies, big heart. We need you. Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Scripture Reading: Epistle to Philippians (NIV)
1:4-7 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
1:18-20 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
3:4-8 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
3:13-14 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
3:20-21 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8-9 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Thoughts to Share: To know Christ and to make him known
Paul’s plan was interrupted. He was confined and waited for his final verdict. He faced an uncertainty about his fate and future. The gifts, a fragrant offering, was sent to him from the Philippian Christian groups, who not only were Paul’s joy and crown, but also were Paul’s dearest and the most faithful partner in advancing the Gospel. He was reminded his sweet relations between them. He reflected about his life-long dedication to the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ. He thought about the things concerning his own life and death. He thought about what he could be pastoral one more time for them. The epistle to the Philippians came out of such context.
Paul shared his own understanding of his current trouble. It was for Christ. The Gospel was proclaimed anyway. He was hopeful. He believed the prayers of Philippians and the help of the Spirit of God would deliver him out of this circumstance. He determined one goal: in life or death; he will magnify Christ. At this moment, he wanted to do more work for Christ. He expected to see his dearest friends in Philippi again.
In his isolation and quarantine time, he pondered what to encourage his beloved Philippian Christians who worried him. He asked them-
1) To live up to the Gospel of the Jesus Christ
He called them to look up the example of Christ’ humble services to pursue unity and peace among them. Take their responsibilities to work out their salvation. Express the word of Life in real life context. Be the blameless children of God. Be the light of the world in the crooked generation. Do not boast their worldly pride.
2) To know more and more about Jesus Christ to become mature
Paul asked the Philippian Christians to imitate him. Paul had no doubt that knowing Christ Jesus had a surpassing worth. It was a path with no ending. He knew how good it was to be “in Christ”, “through Christ”, and “for Christ”. He had no regret for all that he gave up in order to know him more and deeper. He continued to desire for experiencing the power of Christ’s resurrection in him as fresh as the time when he first encountered Jesus. He did not simply reside in what he already attained. He was eager to plan his next steps. He had a clear vision: to press on the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He lived in align with his identity as a citizen in heaven and hope for a glorious body.
3) To learn finding peace, contentment, and joy in the Lord during present difficult moments
Paul comforted those Philippian Christians who worried him by sharing his learning during his confined time. He kept using the phrases “in the Lord”, “through the Lord” to point out the source of his peace, contentment and joy. Our life circumstances could change. The Lord Christ Jesus would not change. Paul taught that prayers, positive thinking, and standing firm in the Lord would keep them in peace and strength.
Paul was confined. But his love for people and Gospel mission was not. His entire soul was saturated with Christ. He lived out the example of serving the Lord “in season” and “out of season”. Paul concluded his epistle with the blessings on their increasing fruits and abundant supply for their needs.
Prayer Suggestions:
Dear Christ Jesus, we thought we are good enough. Your word opens our eyes to see more. We need to press on. We want to discover what lies ahead. We need to be in you more and through you more. We ask your resurrection power in us to regenerate us, to love you more, and to know you more. And to press on our life journey according to our identities in you and as a heaven citizen. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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