DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-11-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Philippians 1:27
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁷ Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.

APPLICATION: Why do you suppose that we are such miserable folk as to find fault with everything, and everyone at our respective churches? When imperfectness meets together with others who are imperfect, does it not result in imperfect results? So how do we correct this? Friends, we are reminded by the Holy Spirit, through Paul, that we must live, and meet together with certain goals in mind:
~**~ The Purpose For Which We Meet – Imagine after a long week at work, where so much has gone down between envious employees, that you would dare awaken and choose to go to a place that supposedly represents a loving and miraculous God, but you have foreknowledge that there is much strife and embattlement going on between its members? Paul said that the church should be meeting to bring honor to the good news of Jesus Christ. A church that fails in that, will look like what I just described. Remember, the ‘church’ is the people, or the body – you and I, that assembles in the name of Jesus. Paul also emphasized this same subject in Romans 12:18, so I am convinced that it was important then, as it should be now. In as much as it depends on me, may I always live at peace with everyone!
~**~ Evidence of being a Philippians 1 Church – ‘Think alike‘ – isn’t it interesting that for every person in a church business meeting, you will find their own respective views on something?! Yet, if we are living under the same principles, we will tend to ‘think alike’! ‘Work Together‘ – I heard an older church member say at one time while working on a project for the church, if only the others would disappear, then I might get the work done. While this may be true in certain circumstances, I believe that God uses such times to strengthen our bond with each other so we could, in turn, go on to accomplish ministry together. ‘Struggling side-by-side‘ – As we help to bear one another’s burdens, they learn to trust and appreciate us, to again form an admirable ministry partner. ‘Get others to believe the Good News‘ – If we keep this as our common goal, we will work together to achieve the goal for which Jesus saved us – ‘Go and tell the world about Me‘
Let’s not forget, we must live in a way that brings glory to God and shows the world that we represent the Good News of which we preach and teach!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When we follow the teaching God gave to Paul for us, we will see the work of our Master take hold and seem enticing to even the hardest sinner. Oh, that Jesus will shine through His children and may He be glorified through everything accomplished by His saints.

PRAYER: You are a merciful Father, for You rescued us from our sin and directed our path to represent You in this wicked and sinful world. Oh, how easily we forget how far You brought us from, so we struggle to identify with others who are traveling the same road as we did. Please forgive us, Lord. Thank You for this reminder today that to be effective in ministry, we must live as You taught us to, and allow others to see in us all that they have learned about You. As they see You in us, Lord, may they also have a growing desire to know You personally and invite You to rule and reign in their lives. I believe that most who will read or listen to this devotional today, will identify with the struggles of the local church. Please let the change begin in us. As we strive to demonstrate all that we know of Your teachings and commands, may others take note and have a growing desire to do the same. Please help us to straighten up and fly right, so that the lost will have hope as they see You evidenced in our lives. To God be the glory, for the great things You have done, and will continue to do, until Jesus returns to take His church home! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!