Devotional Guide for Thursday, July 4

Philippians 1:12-18

Reflect
Paul has an amazing perspective on his current situation. The Philippian church is inquiring how he is doing, and instead of telling them all his aches, pains, and troubles, Paul jumps right to letting them know that the gospel is still being advanced. Wow!

Paul can see his life through a lens that puts Jesus and the gospel message ahead of anything else. He can see his imprisonment as an opportunity to spread the gospel to a people group he wouldn’t have had contact with if not for being in prison. His relationship to and with Jesus is so central to his life, that if he would just stop talking about Jesus, he probably would be released from prison.

Paul’s belief that God is at work and will work in and through strange and difficult situations should be an encouragement to us. Even those who were preaching the gospel to try to get Paul in trouble were not seen as a bother, but rather a gift, since what matters most is Jesus being preached.

As you read this passage today, consider what the gospel means to you. How far are you willing to go to have the gospel advance? Would you be willing to suffer hardship for the gospel to be advanced? Why or why not?

Pastor Terry

Pray for North American Baptist Conference
The North American Baptist Conference is a family of missionaries. We believe every follower of Jesus is to be a missionary, whether it’s in churches and neighbourhoods in Canada and the US or on mission fields scattered around the world. We want to transform communities—shaping leaders, sending missionaries, and equipping disciples as signs, servants, and foretastes of the Kingdom of God in North America and around the world. Join us in praying for the exciting things we anticipate God will be doing in and through our ministry in the next year.