In Paul's apparent humility of Philippians 1:1-2, is powerful subversion of the world order. Paul’s very identification as a slave of Christ declared to Rome “You’re not the boss of me. 

Looking away from ourselves to the LORD I AM makes us shine. It’s like the way sunlight hits the water and makes it shimmer. Light makes a rather dull creek look like a ribbon of gold winding through green woods. We get lit up by the radiance of God. Our lives are warmed from within. Our words and faces sparkle with hope and peace.

I am in the grip of Jesus. He has laid hold of me and raised me from death to life. He has lifted me from the illusion of lack to the truth of his sufficiency. I am not left to figure out life alone. As I surrender to Christ, he guides me. He will take care of everything.

Jesus ran for joy, He ran for a reward. His reward was him “being seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is where he fixed his eyes. It was the vision of this finish line that carried Him through the suffering and shame. It was His goal! He had told His disciples “That where I am, there you may be also.” What is our goal? It is Jesus Himself. He is our goal.

For Paul and Silas, nothing dished out by angry Pharisees or ignorant Romans or shipwrecks or starvation could take the place of who he saw and what he heard on that Damascus road. Jesus Christ had gone through all Paul had faced in the area of suffering and mistreatment, and far worse – to the point of crucifixion. Jesus had Paul’s heart, and nothing – no fear or anxiety of any kind – would be able to move that.

The story of a girl who has been possessed and exploited but the victory is hers through Christ.

In the strange places into which God may send you, in the small starts that tempt you to disappointment, in every area of life be comforted that your God numbers your days, he counts your tears, and he’s close enough that he numbers every hair on your head. No one can thwart his purpose in the world and nothing can thwart his good purpose for you.

Our primary mission field is our daily life. That’s where we’re sent. Sent into our families. Sent into our schools. Sent into our work, our neighborhood, our clubs, the shops, the restaurants as agents of Christ. We carry his name and his love everywhere we go. This is the point of life. What exactly are you supposed to say and do this week? You can ask the Lord to show you. And when he answers, when he prompts, remember the right reply of Ananias, “Lord, here I am. Send me.”

Men, we have hearts for Jesus. Younger men and boys want to see and share such a heart. They see all around them people who live for revenge, for respect, for taking, for grabbing. They need to see some men who are living a different way. They need to hear us have the courage to name the name of Jesus and give God the glory for what he’s done in our lives. Are you building into a young man? Are you offering to be a father in the faith? Because someone is just waiting for you. Just let someone see your heart for Jesus and his world.

It works like this. We bring that part of us that is pierced or pulverized to Jesus and find a channel opens in his speared side to take us in. Blood to blood. Humiliation to humiliation. Scar to scar. We come and he receives us.