Saturday, April 10, 2021

Philippians 2 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Philippians 2:5

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

I was reading through a notebook that I wrote Scriptures in while I was in prison and came across this one today. Then, in verses 6-11, it goes on to tell of the qualities and traits of Jesus.

The question I have is: how can we translate that to everyday living? How can we be less selfish and more selfless?? The answer, I think, is found in the Scriptures. Many times, Jesus says to deny yourself and that the first will be last. See, that’s totally opposite thinking from what I’m used to. For me, it’s always been ‘get mine first, and you can have the leftovers.’

But to truly have the same mindset as Jesus, we have to put God first and other people above ourselves. I pray often that Jesus helps me to see people the way He sees me, to forgive people the way He forgave me, to serve people the way He served us, and most importantly, to love people the way He loves me! 


I’m not perfect or anywhere in the realm of even being “good,” but each day, I try to do a little better and grow a little closer to God, and I urge you to do the same!! I feel like the closer we get to truly loving each other, the closer we get to Jesus!!!

I love you all and God bless!! Let’s give God the glory today!

 

Philippians 2:10-11

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This was made possible by what Jesus did so many years ago!! He bought our freedom and earned the right to this worship by willingly going to the cross for us!!

Think about the “worst” thing you have ever done and all the shame, the guilt, and the pain that is associated with that. Now, multiply that by every sin ever committed. Jesus had all that on Him and yet He was praying for us during His time on the cross!!! He wasn’t praying for His own deliverance but for our forgiveness!!! That’s the God we serve!!!!!

I’m not going to wait till the end to kneel and confess Jesus as Lord, and I hope and pray you don’t either. Let’s choose this day whom we will serve!!!! 


Crowder has a song called Red Letters, and in it, there is a verse that says, “his arms stretched out where mine should be, Jesus changed my destiny!!!!” He already took your place. Now, will you let Him change your destiny????

God bless and I love you all!! Thank You, Jesus!!!!

 

Philippians 2:27

Indeed, he was ill and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

 

Yesterday the Lord led me to talk about prayer and the power that it holds! Not because of the words we say but because of Who He is! Later that same day, I got a phone call from a dear brother of mine, and it wasn’t the phone call I was expecting. He proceeded to tell me how his mom's hemoglobin was at near catastrophic levels and that they were giving her blood transfusion after blood transfusion because it was coming out of her as fast as it was going in.

 

We talked and had the conversation most people have when faced with the reality of death – how he was thankful she was saved and had a close walk with Jesus. So, though it’s painful, it would be bearable knowing she was with the Lord. Then we prayed, and I asked some of those closest to me to pray for her as well. Fast forward about 4 hours, and I get another call from him, so, bracing myself, I answered it. But instead of sorrow, I could hear the smile on my brother's face! He tells me how his mom went from a bleak prognosis to being on the verge of going home the next day! God had moved and stopped the bleeding and restored her strength. She sounded like a completely different person and like nothing had happened!

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy!!! You alone are worthy of praise!!! He reached down and healed her, maybe for a minute or maybe for a lifetime! Now. I don’t know what the future holds for my friend's mom, but I do know that she wasn’t supposed to walk out of that hospital, but now they are talking about her going home !!! He said the doctors couldn’t believe it!

 

See, our God isn’t bound by our limits or diagnoses! I’m not saying that everyone will find healing on this earth, but all of those who belong to Christ will experience the ultimate healing one day, and we can count on that. My brother didn’t know if he would see his mom again on this earth, but he had faith and trusted that the God who gave His son for us knew what He was doing and that he would see his mom one day in Heaven! Having peace isn’t always getting the answer we want but rather having faith and trust in the One giving the answer!

 

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

 

 

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