The Light of Life Daily Devotional

THURSDAY, 19th May 2022 

TOPIC: A FEARLESS MIND

FOR READING & MEDITATION:  PHILIPPIANS 1:20-24

20. 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. 

21. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 

23. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 

24. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

MEDITATE 

From our text for meditation today we can begin to appreciate what made Apostle Paul to live the way he did. One of this is that: deep down within him, he has overcome the fear of death. Death was not an issue as far as he was concerned. That is why he said: “For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying-well, that's better yet!” Therefore, you don't go threatening Paul with death.  It will not move him.

This is also the attitude and passion by which the early saints lived committed lives that enabled them go through all that they suffered, in their efforts to expand the frontiers of the kingdom of God. It is the same reason why persecutions in whatever form, have not been able to wipe out the church from the face of the earth. 

In their generations, we have had men and women who had strong commitment and love for God and could not be frightened by death. If we therefore want to champion the course of our Lord Jesus Christ in the frontline of missions, we must deal with all anxiety about ourselves and focus on Christ's glorification.

The second thing that made Apostle Paul live the way he did was his strong, confident expectation that God would stand by him and give him the courage to speak boldly and testify of the Gospel of the grace of God. To Paul life and death were perfectly equal, providing Christ was magnified in his person, nature and doctrine. 

As we develop this attitude we will see God in action, overruling things for our good so that nothing will discouraged us, but we go forward in meekness and calmness, rejoicing that whether we live or die, Christ will be honoured and his cause triumph.

VERSE OF THE DAY: "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Philippians 1:20).

QUOTE: “To Paul life and death were perfectly equal, providing Christ was magnified in his person, nature and doctrine”.

PRAYER: Lord, recruit me today into that army you can entrust the battle for the kingdom. Amen.