The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Joy in Preaching Christ" for Monday, 2 March 2015 Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Joy in Preaching Christ" for Monday, 2 March 2015 Scripture: Philippians 1:12 Now, brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped in advancing the Good News. 13 It has become clear to the whole palace and to everyone else that it is because of the Messiah that I am in chains. 14 Also, my being in prison has given most of the brothers in the Lord confidence, so that they have become much more bold in speaking the word of God fearlessly. 15 True, some are proclaiming the Messiah out of jealousy and rivalry, but others are doing it in goodwill. 16 The latter act from love, aware that I am put where I am for defending the Good News; 17 while the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition, with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison. 18 But so what? All that matters is that in every way, whether honestly or in pretense, the Messiah is being proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will work out for my deliverance,[a] because of your prayers and the support I get from the Spirit of Yeshua the Messiah. 20 It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead. 21 For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain. 22 But if by living on in the body I can do fruitful work, then I don’t know which to choose. 23 I am caught in a dilemma: my desire is to go off and be with the Messiah — that is better by far — 24 but because of you, the greater need is to stay on in the body. 25 Yes, I am convinced of this; so I know I will stay on with you in order to help you progress in the faith and have joy in it. 26 Then, through my being with you again, you will have even greater reason for boasting about the Messiah Yeshua.
27 Only conduct your lives in a way worthy of the Good News of the Messiah; so that whether I come and see you or I hear about you from a distance, you stand firm, united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, 28 not frightened by anything the opposition does. This will be for them an indication that they are headed for destruction and you for deliverance. And this is from God; 29 because for the Messiah’s sake it has been granted to you not only to trust in him but also to suffer on his behalf, 30 to fight the same battles you once saw me fight and now hear that I am still fighting.[Footnotes:
Philippians 1:19 Job 13:16]
Paul wrote, “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. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”[Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV)]
Recently, I’ve been thinking about Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. While imprisoned for preaching Christ, Paul expressed joy in the knowledge that the gospel of the love and the saving grace of Jesus Christ was being preached, regardless of the manner in which the message was relayed. Rather than seek sympathy for his unjust imprisonment or vengeance against those stirring up trouble for him, Paul declares that no matter what happens he will continue to rejoice.
Paul’s experience and testimony have made me look back at my own life as a Christian believer and ask myself, Do I glorify Christ in life as Paul did? Unlike the apostle Paul, when trouble comes along I am more likely to shy away and seek sympathy from others. Likewise, I am more inclined to seek vengeance against those from whom the trouble comes.
How I wish and pray for courage to emulate Paul! I want to find joy in every circumstance, knowing that Christ is being preached through my life, both in happy moments and during the times of my sufferings.
Read more from the author, here.
"Growing"

I like to spend time with children. Most of the time I talk with them to hear their opinions. I like to reflect on how I reasoned when I was a child. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child…” Hearing a child’s reasoning reminds me of how I related to my parents when I was young.
Recently, my daughter and I were checking my son’s progress with school assignments. I noticed for a while that he was reluctant to have his homework checked by his sister, not because it was wrong, but because he felt his sister was not old enough to supervise his homework.

At one point he burst out, “I DON’T CARE WHETHER THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE RIGHT OR WRONG!” We all broke out laughing, not in approval of what he said, but because of our amazement at his way of thinking. This reminded me of when I was a child his age and my dad would always insist on checking my homework to assess my progress and correct where I had gone wrong.
Thinking of this event made me reminisce about how I have moved away from being this little boy who needed close attention and support from the father. Now that I am older, I have “put childish ways behind me,” as Paul did (1 Corinthians 13:11). As my children grow up, we have differing opinions about issues, just the same way I would with my parents, but as they grow up I reflect on my relationship with my own parents and realize how right they were about many things. It is important to reflect on how we grow and change as people and as believers.[Philip Polo]
The Author: Philip Polo (Nairobi, Kenya)
Thought for the Day: Thought for the Day: How am I reflecting Christ through my life?
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for Paul’s example of what it means to serve you in all circumstances. Give us the courage and strength to rejoice and preach the gospel through our happy moments and in sad ones too. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Who Witness For Christ In Prison
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