PHILIPPIANS 1:27

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

TO PONDER:

Today I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, it’s going to be one of those days...

Have you ever said that, or maybe felt that way when you woke up and for whatever reason just knew it was going to be a difficult day? Maybe today was the day you had to do something, go somewhere, or visit someone you didn’t want to.

In today’s verse, Paul is telling the Church in Philippi to not let circumstances to control them, to change who they were and how they behaved.

Now, to put the verse into context the Philippian church were experiencing persecution, Paul himself was writing the letter from prison, that’s why he was unsure whether he would see the church soon or ever again, so it wasn’t a matter of waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Paul is telling them to strive to, to struggle to maintain a gospel attitude, or in other words to decide everyday to trust God, and to strive together to be better people.

How often do we let people rob us of our joy, how often do we let circumstances ruin our day? What do we let trigger a reaction in our life that works against a gospel life?

Paul is telling us today to decide who we are going to be, how we are going to respond, and to do better.

PRAYER:  Loving Father, today I decide to follow you, to live a life worthy of your gospel, to not be controlled by circumstances but to respond in love and grace. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside