DAILY DEVOTION - 10 APRIL 2020
- Pastor Cecil Visagie
- Apr 10, 2020
- 2 min read
Good morning. Peace be with you all. Rejoice in the Lord always. "And do what you learned and received from me--what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9 ERV.
Insight
The Bible does more than just tell us how to get to heaven. The Bible is the source book for a complete way of life---the Christian way of life. When the Bible enters into a believers life, it changes the way they see life and the way it is lived.
Challenge
In our verses Paul offers himself as a living example that the Philippian church can imitate. At first glance, this may seem somewhat arrogant on Paul's part. However, when one considers the pagan way of life into which Paul was introducing the Christian way of life, one can see the necessity for Paul's offer. People need living examples of what to believe and what to do.
It's not as if Paul was conveniently overlooking his own imperfections. He said, "All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle" in I Corinthians 15:9. However, Paul had left his old way of life behind him and he was trying hard to live the new way of life in Philippians 3:13. He knew that the church at Philippi could use his example of what the new life in Christ looks like.
Paul himself had an example. He said, "Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ" in I Corinthians 11:1. Jesus Christ, of course, is every believer's ultimate example found in the bible. Given this, some might wonder why Paul didn't just refer his new converts to the example of Christ. The reason is that Jesus was not available to them in their situation as was Paul. Despite his imperfections, Paul was the best thing immediately available for imitation.
Today, as Christian's we have our Bibles that can show us the life of Christ who we can imitate and follow. In this way it is beneficial to lay down the old way of life and imitate a new life with Jesus. If we follow Jesus Christ, God will be with us until eternity. May God bless and protect you all. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.
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