Philippians 4:9
I love chapter 4 of Philippians. Paul touches on so many things in this chapter. Rejoicing, anxiety, thought patterns, and contentment. Our verse for today, though, is about learning from Paul's example and putting it into practice. We all should have role models in our lives! For the Philippians and many other churches, it was Paul. We, too, can look to Paul as an example in our faith, but is there someone else in your life that you could learn from, too? Maybe your role model is a pastor, friend, or relative. Right now, you can think of someone that you aspire to be like in your spiritual journey.
I love what Pastor David Jeremiah says in his Bible Study Series about Philippians, “The people we choose to serve as our role models say a lot about us, what inspires us, what we consider to be important, and who we aspire to be. The right role models can have a profound effect on our lives. They can give us direction and encouragement in our walk with Christ”. Whether you're a pastor or have recently accepted Christ as your savior, we all need mentors and role models. There are always areas of growth in our lives. Paul was challenging his readers to put the things they had seen or heard from him into practice. By doing so, the God of peace would be with them. Think about what draws you to your role models. I hope it’s not their popularity or success. I hope you see Jesus in this person. Their habits, kindness, knowledge of the Bible, sacrifices for others around them, etc. If you have someone you look up to, but they don’t know it, TELL THEM! I will never forget someone reaching out to me and telling me those words. In that moment, I realized people are watching my life. I will tell you it really made me want to watch how I carry myself as a Christian and protect my testimony even more, because someone was looking to my example. I did not feel worthy of their compliment, but God used it to help grow me even more.
Paul did so much for the early church and for advancing the gospel. I don’t know anyone who compares to him. He has so much to say to us about how we can grow to be more like Christ. Those we look up to are able to come alongside us and help us, just like Paul. Then, eventually YOU can come alongside someone else and be THEIR role model, and it turns full circle. We say at Emmanuel, “We exist to honor God by making passionate disciples”. I have been discipling ladies over the past couple of years, and I will tell you there is no greater joy than helping others develop and grow. For some of you that starts in the home as a mother, teaching your children about Jesus. For others, it could be meeting one-on-one with someone. Who is your role model? And who are you being a role model for? Let’s be passionate disciples, making disciples!
I love chapter 4 of Philippians. Paul touches on so many things in this chapter. Rejoicing, anxiety, thought patterns, and contentment. Our verse for today, though, is about learning from Paul's example and putting it into practice. We all should have role models in our lives! For the Philippians and many other churches, it was Paul. We, too, can look to Paul as an example in our faith, but is there someone else in your life that you could learn from, too? Maybe your role model is a pastor, friend, or relative. Right now, you can think of someone that you aspire to be like in your spiritual journey.
I love what Pastor David Jeremiah says in his Bible Study Series about Philippians, “The people we choose to serve as our role models say a lot about us, what inspires us, what we consider to be important, and who we aspire to be. The right role models can have a profound effect on our lives. They can give us direction and encouragement in our walk with Christ”. Whether you're a pastor or have recently accepted Christ as your savior, we all need mentors and role models. There are always areas of growth in our lives. Paul was challenging his readers to put the things they had seen or heard from him into practice. By doing so, the God of peace would be with them. Think about what draws you to your role models. I hope it’s not their popularity or success. I hope you see Jesus in this person. Their habits, kindness, knowledge of the Bible, sacrifices for others around them, etc. If you have someone you look up to, but they don’t know it, TELL THEM! I will never forget someone reaching out to me and telling me those words. In that moment, I realized people are watching my life. I will tell you it really made me want to watch how I carry myself as a Christian and protect my testimony even more, because someone was looking to my example. I did not feel worthy of their compliment, but God used it to help grow me even more.
Paul did so much for the early church and for advancing the gospel. I don’t know anyone who compares to him. He has so much to say to us about how we can grow to be more like Christ. Those we look up to are able to come alongside us and help us, just like Paul. Then, eventually YOU can come alongside someone else and be THEIR role model, and it turns full circle. We say at Emmanuel, “We exist to honor God by making passionate disciples”. I have been discipling ladies over the past couple of years, and I will tell you there is no greater joy than helping others develop and grow. For some of you that starts in the home as a mother, teaching your children about Jesus. For others, it could be meeting one-on-one with someone. Who is your role model? And who are you being a role model for? Let’s be passionate disciples, making disciples!
Posted in Devotional