So much depends on our attitude towards the people we meet and the circumstances in our lives, circumstances often over which we have no control. In Philippians 1 Paul has a lot to teach us about attitude.
Though he was in prison at the time of writing this letter to the Philippians and might have bemoaned his fate, he did not. Instead he saw that it would turn out for his deliverance. He could have sat on his behind and did nothing while in prison. Instead he chose to write and encourage those in the church with his words of wisdom. When you are in a difficult situation and feel you are imprisoned by sickness or some circumstances in your life, do you go into a sulk and refuse to do anything or still continue to do God’s work? Even if we can’t be out and about doing things we can still pray for others in their ministry.
In this chapter we see that Paul valued the prayers of others. Sometimes when life gets tough and we are finding it hard to pray, it is helpful to know that others are upholding us in prayer.
Paul continued to trust in God that he would not be put to shame, and whether life or death resulted Jesus would be glorified, Philippians 1:20. The choice of life or death was not in Paul’s hands but God’s. It is the same for all of us. If the recent floods in Australia and other parts of the world have shown us anything, it is that we never know what will happen. We never know if we will have another day.
While on earth though, Paul saw he had a job to do. So do each one of us, that job is to further God’s kingdom and His work. Are you a help or a hindrance in this? Whatever your talents or gifts each of us needs to use them in God’s service. What is the best use of your time and resources for His kingdom?
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