PHILIPPIANS 1:27

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

TO PONDER

The New Testament talks quite a bit about striving and perseverance in the life of a Christian. This suggests that there is something significant or important about these qualities.

both striving and perseverance are important qualities if you are going to advance a cause or a story, even an adventure. To move something forward takes effort, that's a basic law of physics. Things that are stationary don't move forward unless someone or something applies a force or 'effort' to get them moving.

Our adventure with God, and his adventure with us is an advancing adventure. It does not end when we come to faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. That is when the adventure really gets going. There are obstacles and hurdles that challenge our faith. There are situations and relationships in our lives that make other paths more attractive than the ones God lays out for us.

Yet one of the ways God moves the adventure forward is by the consistent efforts of his people to live lives, and to conduct ourselves, in a manner worthy of the precious gift we have received in Christ Jesus. There should be no question, whether people encounter us face-to-face or hear about us 'through the grapevine', that we are a people bound together in the unity of the Holy Spirit, working together as one for the sake of the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Please help me when it is hard to walk the road that you set out for me. Help me to remember your promise to be with me and provide me with whatever I need to navigate the difficult parts of life. May the way I live and conduct myself be a witness to the love and grace I have found in you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle