Set Apart
Read: Luke 1:5-16 For he will be great before the Lord. (v. 15) Imagine that you are Zechariah, a respected priest enjoying a long marriage to an equally respected spouse, but unable to have a child. You’ve prayed again and again that God would allow your wife to conceive. You’re going about your work in the […]
The Communion of Saints
Read: Philippians 4:21-23 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. (v. 22) On Thanksgiving Day, Christians gather in churches to thank God for their freedoms, including the freedom to worship. It’s something believers in the United States and Canada often take for granted. But even as you prepare to celebrate this holiday, it’s […]
Generous Giving
Read: Philippians 4:14-19 A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (v. 18) In this season, there are many prompts to be generous. Many churches hold special collections for ministries or missions, and it’s also the time when food pantries collect a majority of their donations for the year. But Paul encourages us to […]
Developing Endurance
Read: Philippians 4:10-13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (v. 13) My friend Clarke was a member of the Canadian triathlon team and trained for the 2012 Olympics. Every day, he woke up at 5:00 a.m. to swim a mile. In the afternoon, he biked 100 kilometers. I once asked him if […]
Practicing Discernment
Read: Philippians 4:8-9 If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (v. 8) If we’re honest, we’ll probably have to admit that much of what we listen to or watch does little to sustain us spiritually. In fact, social media and commercial television is designed to make us […]
Practicing Daily Prayer
Read: Philippians 4:4-7 In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (v. 6) Today’s verses from Philippians are famous, and like any familiar passage, repetition can sap their power. But Paul reminds us of something incredible. Christians do not need to make elaborate sacrifices or seek the mediation […]
Seek Reconciliation
Read: Philippians 4:1-3 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. (v. 2) In 1983, Pope John Paul II went to prison to visit the man who had tried to kill him the year before. To many people in the world this was an astonishing act of forgiveness. But for the pope […]
Consider Your Calling
Read: Philippians 3:12-21 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (v. 14) In third grade, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: President of the United States. Needless to say, that was not actually my calling in life! As I got […]
Reorienting Your Priorities
Read: Philippians 3:1-11 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (v. 8) Disappointment comes when you can’t get something you think you need. And while that is natural, it’s also an opportunity to ask: “What am I really living for?” How you answer this question shows your […]