Have you ever had an experience that crippled or crushed you in some way? We have all been there in our lives. Moments that left us frustrated and grasping for reasons as to why we are experiencing what we are experiencing. It’s in these moments where our faith is truly tested. What will be your perspective in these difficult moments?
In one of my past youth ministry churches, I had this experience. While the pastor was a good man who I loved and who ultimately loved me, he was incredibly harsh on me at times. I remember multiple times where he would “call me out” in front of people bringing great embarrassment to my heart. At one time in particular, I remember him yelling at me in front of a bunch of my teenagers and other adults who had volunteered to visit our bus ministry kids on a Saturday. To this day, I don’t even remember what it was about; I just remember him “undressing me” in front of a whole lot of people. That continuous environment led me to begin to have physical problems culminating in what I thought was a heart attack one Thursday night after our weekly teen outreach program. Thankfully, it was treatable anxiety instead. That was a very challenging season in my life.
When I think about the Apostle Paul in our devotional today, I think of someone who was under great scrutiny and immense pressure. His pushback landed him in a Roman prison (an obvious difference from my pushback and pressure). He was under “house arrest” which meant that he could have visitors and receive gifts, but he was relegated to the house in which he was a prisoner. Somehow, he found it within himself to trust God for the future. In reality, it wasn’t anything within him, it was the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul could sense the prayers of the church of Philippi, and he trusted the power of God to eventually deliver him from this prison. He was filled with inexplicable confidence.
What’s amazing about Paul’s confidence is that it came from God and not himself. How is this possible? The answer is that Paul saw his Gospel purpose of evangelizing the unsaved and equipping the church to be “incomplete.” In other words, God had much more for him to do, and he knew it. Imagine if our confidence in overcoming our circumstances had more to do with what we could DO FOR GOD then what we could GET FROM GOD!? Paul had more work to do for Jesus Christ.
What is your purpose as a Christian? Now, before you answer with a “book answer,” how about you dive deeper into that question. Christianity is NOT about comfort. Did you know that every disciple who was called by Jesus died a martyr’s death with the exception of John, who was later exiled to the island of Patmos. Tradition says that John was even tortured by being “boiled alive” in oil. Comfort? I don’t think so. So, can we once and for all stop thinking that serving Jesus is supposed to be an easy task? It’s not; it never will be.
Now, before you get discouraged, let me remind you that serving Jesus is the “best life” possible! Why is that? It’s because you receive so much joy and purpose in impacting a life. When God uses you to help save a marriage, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to teach your children His truth, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to help someone overcome a debilitating addiction, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to see someone pass from spiritual death to spiritual life in salvation, it’s absolutely the “best life!” Despite being “under arrest,” Paul had more work to do, and he knew it...and he couldn’t wait to do it!
The job’s NOT done in your life no matter what your current circumstances are. Take a minute and remind yourself of what a healthy mindset looks like from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14. Don’t let your circumstances define you! You are either going to see them as obstacles or opportunities. The choice is up to you! Choose wisely!
In one of my past youth ministry churches, I had this experience. While the pastor was a good man who I loved and who ultimately loved me, he was incredibly harsh on me at times. I remember multiple times where he would “call me out” in front of people bringing great embarrassment to my heart. At one time in particular, I remember him yelling at me in front of a bunch of my teenagers and other adults who had volunteered to visit our bus ministry kids on a Saturday. To this day, I don’t even remember what it was about; I just remember him “undressing me” in front of a whole lot of people. That continuous environment led me to begin to have physical problems culminating in what I thought was a heart attack one Thursday night after our weekly teen outreach program. Thankfully, it was treatable anxiety instead. That was a very challenging season in my life.
When I think about the Apostle Paul in our devotional today, I think of someone who was under great scrutiny and immense pressure. His pushback landed him in a Roman prison (an obvious difference from my pushback and pressure). He was under “house arrest” which meant that he could have visitors and receive gifts, but he was relegated to the house in which he was a prisoner. Somehow, he found it within himself to trust God for the future. In reality, it wasn’t anything within him, it was the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul could sense the prayers of the church of Philippi, and he trusted the power of God to eventually deliver him from this prison. He was filled with inexplicable confidence.
What’s amazing about Paul’s confidence is that it came from God and not himself. How is this possible? The answer is that Paul saw his Gospel purpose of evangelizing the unsaved and equipping the church to be “incomplete.” In other words, God had much more for him to do, and he knew it. Imagine if our confidence in overcoming our circumstances had more to do with what we could DO FOR GOD then what we could GET FROM GOD!? Paul had more work to do for Jesus Christ.
What is your purpose as a Christian? Now, before you answer with a “book answer,” how about you dive deeper into that question. Christianity is NOT about comfort. Did you know that every disciple who was called by Jesus died a martyr’s death with the exception of John, who was later exiled to the island of Patmos. Tradition says that John was even tortured by being “boiled alive” in oil. Comfort? I don’t think so. So, can we once and for all stop thinking that serving Jesus is supposed to be an easy task? It’s not; it never will be.
Now, before you get discouraged, let me remind you that serving Jesus is the “best life” possible! Why is that? It’s because you receive so much joy and purpose in impacting a life. When God uses you to help save a marriage, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to teach your children His truth, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to help someone overcome a debilitating addiction, it’s the “best life!” When God uses you to see someone pass from spiritual death to spiritual life in salvation, it’s absolutely the “best life!” Despite being “under arrest,” Paul had more work to do, and he knew it...and he couldn’t wait to do it!
The job’s NOT done in your life no matter what your current circumstances are. Take a minute and remind yourself of what a healthy mindset looks like from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14. Don’t let your circumstances define you! You are either going to see them as obstacles or opportunities. The choice is up to you! Choose wisely!