Monday
Read the following passage Philippians 1:20-26. We will be working through it for the next couple of days.
"20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me."
Regarding verse 20, Being in prison can bring shame on a person. Just the other day I saw a prison worker weed wacking some grass in our subdivision. Just because he was a prisoner I was feeling like I did not want him there or near our house. However, I do not know what he did. Have you ever thought the same?
Paul's imprisonment could bring great shame on him and anyone he associates with. However, what is most important to Paul is preaching Christ. He in fact knows God's love for him and is so secure he has faith that he will continue to be bold for Christ in prison or out of prison. In fact he is confident that in life or death he will make an effort to bring honor to Christ. That is his supreme and highest goal. We should pray that God will make that ours as well.
Think About It
Have you ever been in a situation that brought deep hurt or embarrassment because you were living for Christ or speaking about Christ? I know you are young but some situations may have appeared already in your life. Think about this.
Here is an example. I was serving in ministry at a place filled with other Christians. Some of those who claimed they were Christians got very uncomfortable with my teaching Christ. So they complained about me. The leader spoke to me and asked me to not do that so much. I appeared to love God too much. I was very hurt. Unlike Paul being bold I felt shame and hurt. I stopped doing what God called me to do for a time. Can you relate to this? How?
The good thing about these experiences of carrying the cross of Christ is we can learn from them and we can grow to be more like Him. I am thankful for this experience now because I know I will be more bold the next time it happens to me. I did not practice the "whatever" principle we spoke of last week.
How did you practice the "whatever" example last week? Did it help?
TuesdayNow read verses 21-22 again we will discuss those today.
Paul does say that living means living for Christ. While you are breathing air on this planet God has things for you to do! What kinds of things do you think God has for you to do right now?
Paul says that dying is better. We can look ahead and see why he says this from looking at verse 23. Why is dying better for Paul?
Wouldn't being with Christ be the best!? But while he leaves us on this planet we have work to do to bring Christ glory.
In verse 22 why does Paul say living is better?
Think About itWhat are some practical ways you can give glory to Christ in your home? List them. I can think of a few. Ask your mom or dad how you can help them. Doing your chores without complaining brings glory to God. Getting along with your brothers or sisters brings glory to God. Honoring your parents brings glory to God. Taking care of your body and house brings glory to God. How can you practice today?
Do you ever have to fear dying if you are in Christ?
Remember if you believe by faith what Christ did for you by dying on the cross and being raised to life you are under His Lordship and you live for Him. Your life is no longer your own it is now hidden in Christ. So dying then unites us with Him.
Wednesday
Now read verses 23-26.
Paul desires to be with Jesus as we too should. However like I said earlier if we are breathing on this planet we are here for His purposes. He has work for you to do.
Paul knows he will probably live because it will benefit his friends. He can mentor and encourage and teach them more. God has so many purposes for us. It amazes me that the God who created the entire universe, that keeps our planet spinning and rotating and floating in the atmosphere perfectly, has work for little ones like us to do! He does though. He is God. He does not need us but chose to create us for His glory.
Think About It.
Paul said he would "help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith." How can you help others grow so they will experience the joy of their faith? Any ideas?
Again, remember Paul is not in great conditions here. Yet instead of thinking about himself he is thinking about how to help his friends. What are some ways you can think of yourself less and help your friends?
God made all things "good" but His final creation He made as "very good." The final creation He made by the way was human beings. He saved the best for last which was us. Think of some of His amazing creation, how beautiful, or vast like the universe or the deep deep ocean. Or crazy animals like the ostrich or majestic horse. Such wonderful creations but we are the apple of His eye. We are what He came to save and rescue. Do you look at yourself in this light? Do you look at other human beings in this light? Take time to worship God and thank Him for everything.
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Thursday
Read Philippians 1:27, "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News."
According to this verse how must we live?
How do we live this way?
Why?
Paul wants us to live as if Heaven is our home not this present world. We do this by behaving in a manner that loves His good news. Knowing He lived a perfect life, died a perfect sacrifice for sin, then came back to life and is seated with God. We can behave in this way when we trust what He did for us. We know His love is so great toward us, and out of response to His love for us we should desire to live it out and speak about it.
Paul hopes they will all stand together united with this purpose in mind. How beautiful would that be? As we read later in this letter we will see there are some people arguing in this body of believers. Unity should be our goal always. Sometimes we have to be ok with agreeing to disagree as well.
Think About It.Do you live currently as if you are an alien on this planet? Why or why not? Where is your true home?
Have you seen any movies where an alien comes to another planet not their own? They are pretty funny huh? We should not get to settled here because it is not our final home.
If you ever wonder what our lives should look like while we are on this earth look to Christ in the gospels. He is the only one we should compare ourselves too. We are not to be Christ but will be made more and more into His image as we follow Him.
Unity is important because in this world we are fighting a battle for the faith. Why do you think arguments and fighting with each other hurts this? How can you work for unity in your relationships? or in your home?
FridayRead verses 28-30.
"Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it."
How should we act around our enemies according to these verses?
Why?
What privilege have you been given?
Paul says we have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ which is a miracle. God grabs ahold of our hearts as He woos us to Himself. Salvation is a gift from Him not our doing so it is an amazing and mysterious miracle I am so thankful for! Ephesians 2:8-10 states it like this, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Isn't that amazing! God is so good to us!
Paul also says it is a privilege to suffer to Christ as well. Have you ever looked at a trial you experienced this way?
No one can do anything to us that God will not use for greater glory! We have no reason to be afraid.
We are all in this together! Let us stick together to fight the good fight of the faith.
Think About It.Who do you have to fight the faith with? Who is in your life who will help you stay focused on Christ? It is good to have friends and family who do this?
If you belong to Christ have you thanked Him for this gift? Take time thinking and praising Him for this.
Have you ever considered it a privilege to suffer for Christ? Why or why not.
Here is an example you may relate too. My daughter has been suffering from a very painful and annoying ear infection. She has been so irritated by it. However, how you can suffer in Christ-likeness is finding the things you can be thankful for in a bad situation and trust Him to get you through because He suffered and can relate to anything you go through. My daughter shared with me what she is learning is that God will get her through it. And she wants it fixed now but she is learning trust and patience in God's perfect timing. She is bearing a cross and dying to her self by walking through this trial trusting Him. It would be much easier to be mean and rude because she does not feel well but she is choosing the narrow path.
Great job this week! Keep growing in His work. Stay disciplined in His word and living it out. We must fight this fight of faith together! Praying you will grow in His truth and grace this week!
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