ESOCS Devotional 22 January 2021
TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 1:1-26
MEMORY VERSE: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” Philippians 1:12 NKJV
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, acknowledged himself variously as a prisoner of the Lord (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; Col. 4:10). He suffered many afflictions and persecutions because of the gospel from his early ministry. At Caesarea, Prophet Agabus came down from Judea and prophesied that Paul would be bound and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles at Jerusalem. Everyone pleaded with him not to go down to Jerusalem but he refused. He said, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13 AMP).
Paul’s attitude to afflictions was that they were a component part of the Christian race. Therefore, as Christians we should endure temptations (James 1:12). He believed that they all help to accomplish God’s purposes concerning the gospel, and in the life of every Christian. Therefore, trials, temptations, afflictions, or troubles of life should make us strong and not weak. We should learn to be more faithful to God and to our Christian race and belief, and not allow them to make us backslide or shrink away from God. We should follow the example laid for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, which the earliest apostles and disciples imitated. The more our Lord was persecuted, the more He drew near to the cross until He was crucified and He resurrected. The earliest Christians did the same thing. We should imitate them.
Again, Paul understood that the evil one uses afflictions as a weapon to destabilise and discourage people from remaining steadfast and faithful to God, and their call. However, as in many cases, he encourages us not to give attention to the afflictions, trials, and temptations we experience. We should remain committed to serving and worshipping God in spirit and in truth, so that we may receive the crown of glory at the end of time. Instead of worrying about them, murmuring, and backsliding, our reaction or attitude should be to glorify and thank God for everything (1 Thess. 5:18), rejoice in our troubles always (Phil. 4:4), keep pressing toward the prize of our calling in Christ (Phil. 3:14), and marching towards the New Jerusalem that would descend from the sky (Rev. 3:12; 21:2).The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NKJV).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Let us learn that at such times of distress, God is taking us through His wilderness, and His school. If we are diligent, we would gain knowledge about secrets of God’s ways and His blessings in His kingdom in the period. Such secrets would sustain our faith, and would be reminders to us concerning the necessity of aligning ourselves with God’s word and His will, and ways. Such secrets are the apples we should eat; and we should develop the hunger for them; and not the kind of hunger Eve had for the forbidden fruit, which she ate and gave to her husband, too.
CHALLENGES
In what ways have you benefited from affliction, trial, and temptation? Write them down.
PRAYER POINT
Lord, give me the spirit and character to stand strong in affliction.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 32:1-8; 40:1-11; Matthew 25:31-46
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ESOCS Devotional 22 January 2021
