Covenant Grove Daily Devotionals

If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on himand also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. Welcome him in the Lords love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldnt do from far away.‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the best things about serving Christ is the amazing friends we make. There is a deep connection we have with those who love Christ. Serving Jesus together causes that connection to go even deeper, as we give our lives for His Kingdoms cause.

Working on a team to accomplish Gods will is a big part of Pauls joy in Philippians 1 and 2. In these verses, two co-workers in the gospel were described by Paul. They lived worthy of the gospel, had the attitude of Christ, and shined like stars. They were both devoted to Jesus and to His work. Timothy was incredibly loyal and authentically caring, faithfully serving with Paul for many years. Epaphroditus traveled far and almost died for the work of the gospel. These are two great examples of giving our lives to serve our King. The goal is not just serving but fully surrendering our lives for His Kingdom which includes working together in building Gods land Kingdom.

If you don't have a way that you are serving in ministry, jump in, and make the time to really make a difference. If you are serving already, find a way to really connect with people and grow deeper than just doing the job.How have you experienced joy by working with others on a team? How is the Holy Spirit prompting you to join in building Gods Kingdom with your church famIly?

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christs return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some of these verses seem downright impossible. Rejoice even if we might lose our lives? Shine like stars in a dark and corrupt world? And the hardest one: no complaining or arguing? These commands seem unreasonable until we look at verse 13it is God who is working inside of us to change our desires and actions.

The result of truly following Jesus is JOYjoy that the world can't give, and the world can't take away. This doesn't mean we are never frustrated or upset (Jesus had real emotions). Joy means that we remember the light of God, even in the darkness. We know that nothing can stop God's love. Paul could rejoice even when his life was on the line because it was an offering to the Lord, a declaration to the world of the power of salvation.

Jesus has given salvation as a free gift, and He calls us to follow Him, working out and living out our salvation. We honor our Savior with our lives, even as He empowers us and gives us the desire to obey. When we make choice after choice to follow Jesus, eventually even the impossible is possible. Someday even complaining could disappear from a person's life.Which one of these impossible commands will you work on, with Jesus? Today, will you let Jesus change your attitude and actions?

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Dont be selfish; dont try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Dont look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminals death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus gives us an attitude solutioneven if we don't think we have an attitude problem! We can have encouragement from belonging to Christ, comfort from being loved, and unity from the Holy Spirit. When we have these attitudes, we have God's strength, and our hearts become tender and compassionate. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, following God's will, and was exalted back to His throne in heaven. Jesus is the Risen One; when we focus on Him and imitate Him, our attitudes change.

Here is a secret in life: our attitudes follow our actions. Too often we are waiting to feel like doing what is right. Actions are a matter of will, and once we decide to do what is right, our attitudes will follow. It can be hard to have a good attitude, especially when life beats us up. But our attitudes can change based on what we are focused on and what we choose. If we focus on ChristHis love and how he humbled Himself to deathwe can have His attitude. If we choose to follow Jesuseven when it is hardwe can have His strength to overcome. His life is stronger than death. When the storms come, and they will come, turn your thoughts to Christ: His death and His love. Choose to follow Jesus no matter what is happening or how you feel.When do you have an attitude problem? How can you focus more on Christ every day and throughout the day?

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really dont know which is better. Im torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Dont be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How can we stay encouraged when life brings us down? For Paul, being a Christian meant joining in the suffering of Christ for the world. Paul was in prison, and the mPhilippians faced opposition. He encouraged them to stay strong, living as citizens of heaven. Paul faced death, but he stayed strong by trusting in God. He understood. how his suffering furthered the gospel.

We will go through hard times in life. Jobs will be lost, relationships will go awry, cars will break down, and things will fall apart. Jesus offers us His strength so that we won't fall apart as well. He won't take away the struggles of life, but He is with us and gives us His strength. Following Christ means we will go through more hardships because the way of the world is tilted against the sacrificial way of Christ. As His followers, we run into hardships and fight injustices, yet we do not despair because we walk with the Resurrected One.In what ways are you dealing with discouragement right now? How can the example of Paul, who was persecuted yet stayed encouraged in Christ, help you today?

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak Gods message without fear. Its true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesnt matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really dont know which is better. Im torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Having our eyes on Christ will keep our heads up in the hardest times. Paul was on trial for his life, but he was not overwhelmed with discouragement. He did not even complain! Paul saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to present Christ to the emperor in Rome. He was even willing to die as a testimony to the world. Because he focused on Christ, he saw the bigger picture and did not give in to despair.

We all go through hard times. Will we allow Christ's presence to give us strength? It is good to cry out to God in our low moments, and it is fine to feel frustration (just read some of the Psalms). But dont forget that we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We are loved. Even if we die, death is not the end. Christ is with us in our suffering and will carry us to His side when we die. And He will put people around us to love, support, and challenge us.What difference does it make in your life, knowing that Jesus understands and is by your side in the storms?

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of Gods holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christs return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvationthe righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christfor this will bring much glory and praise to God.‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Once you become a Christian, then what? Many people are confused about this because they thought the goal of life (or Christianity) was to be forgiven. The goal of life is to be closer to Christ, and the day we accept His forgiveness is just the beginning. Salvation is a living relationship with our Creator, transforming our thinking, actions, attitudes, and whole being.

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. He felt a special closeness with the Philippian church, who had supported and encouraged him for many years. He saw them growing more and more through their faith, and he prayed they would continue to grow in love, knowledge, and purity. He knew God was working in them and would continue to work until the day Christ returns. God is still working in you. Keep making the choiceseven the hard onesto be close to Him.How is the Lord working to refine your character? What are some practical ways you get closer to Christ?

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of Gods armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of Gods armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of Gods righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain Gods mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as Gods ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lords work. I have sent him to you for this very purposeto let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May Gods grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God has empowered us to stand up to attacks. We have faith, salvation, and righteousness as a defense against accusations. We don't have to believe the lies thrown against us. We have the word of God and prayer to fight back with God's presence and truthalways in hopes of winning over those who would seek to hurt us. Our battle is not against people; we are in a spiritual battle.

We have the armor of God so that we can stand strong. Often, when we are under spiritual attack, we pull back from the battle. Satan doesn't need to destroy us, just get us out of the fight. If we crumble under the attack, he has done his job. Paul was in prison but still writing and doing God's work. He was not defeated, even when on trial for his life. We have the strength in Christ to stand up, stay in the battle, and overcome. When the attacks come, put on His armor and stand strong. God is with us.What spiritual battles are you fighting right now? Look back over the list Paul gives. Are there any holes in your armor? How can others help support you while you are in the battles?

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of Gods word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every relationship changes when we put Christ first. Jesus taught His followers to love each other the way that He loved them. Paul explained that in all Christ-centered relationships there is a level of submissiongiving up our rights to serve each other. Husbands and wives are to love and serve each other. Men and women are not the same; they have different needs. Husbands and wives are called to listen to each other and meet each other's needs in love.

Marriage is tough. When we put Christ in the center of marriage, it changes for the better. Christ can give us a listening ear when we feel misunderstood; He can help us love even when we feel wronged; He can give us the strength to forgive. Put Christ first. Pursue Him every day and soak up His love for you. As you live out His love in you, every relationship will change.If you are married, how can you live out these verses in your relationship today? If you are single, how can you put Christ first in your life and trust Him with all your relationships?

So be careful how you live. Dont live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Dont act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Dont be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some people act as if faith and thinking are opposites. These verses show that walking with Jesus includes a life of wisdom: using our mindsfilled with God's Spiritto make wise choices and have godly attitudes. The Holy Spirit can change everything in our lives. Our attitudes can be changed because we are filled with thanksgiving. Instead of complaining, we can sing praises to the Lord. The Spirit changes our perspective and gives us hope, even in hardships.

We are also called to be wise, knowing God's will and making the most of every opportunity to share our faith. We need to know how to use our time and how to make good decisions for the Lord. Knowing we will be forgiven does not mean our choices don't matter; we have the power to overcome our selfishness.How do you see faith and thinking working together? What does it mean for you to be careful how you live and make the most of every opportunity with Jesus?

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among Gods people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokesthese are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Dont be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Dont participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Followers of Christ are children of the light. This isnt our light but His light shining in us. His light exposes the dark areas of our souls, and His love gives us the courage and strength to change. We can make the choice to follow our Savior and allow Him to transform us; this includes big decisions and daily habits. If we keep our minds focused on Jesus, and His sacrifice for us, we can turn away from the self-serving bent of this world (idolatry) and truly worship our God with grateful hearts.

Jesus is calling us closer to Himself. The light of Christ can change our lives if we will let it in. We can't compare ourselves to others and become complacent. Our decisions matter. Verse 10 says, Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Are you trying to use God to get what you want? Or is your lifedesires, words, and choicesliving out what God wants?