Thursday, December 5, 2024
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
At the moment I have all I need — and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
Paul was a "can-do" follower of Jesus. What goes into having a "can-do" heart as a disciple of Jesus? At least two important sets of relationships:
We know Jesus talked about loving God and loving our neighbors, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. [4] John deepened this connection with his emphasis on loving our brothers and sisters with genuine, tangible help. [5] James, the half-brother of Jesus, emphasized this same kind of love between believers. [6] The early church demonstrated this kind of support-giving love in meeting the needs of both the local and the worldwide family of believers. [7]
One of the reasons we need to assemble with other believers is that our "can-do" spirit, our ability "to do everything through Christ, who gives [us] strength," means that we have close, deeply committed relationships with Christ and our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. [8] Jesus is Lord and Christ. Our church family is the body of Christ. [9] We need to have the "can-do" spirit of the apostle Paul. Jesus is real inside us and beside us. We need both sets of relationships to navigate life victoriously!
Father, I am amazed at the resilient faith of the apostle Paul. He faced so many trials while sharing the Good News of Jesus all around the Mediterranean world. [A] He continued to share his faith, whether free or under arrest. [B] He willingly gave up his personal preferences and rights to reach as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus. [C] So, almighty God, I ask that the following statement of Paul be true of me — I want to feel it deep in my soul and be able to share it with others:
I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. [D]
May my relationship with the Lord be this real, certain, and communicated. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.
'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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