Whatever Happens. . .
Philippians 1:18b-30
Key Verse: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in
a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27a NIV)
Things happen. Nothing is
going our way. The car broke down. We lost our job. We are so deep in debt we
don’t know how we will ever get out. People do things that hurt us. They betray
us; let us down. Those that we love turn on us in hatred, anger or malice.
Someone we look up to turns out to be a fraud. The leaders we trust fail us. Our
government disappoints us. Paul tells us that no matter what is happening, no matter
how much the people around us are acting poorly, in general or towards us, that
these things do not dictate our actions. It is the love of God, the image of
Christ that regulates how we act. It is easy to respond in like to people who
hurt us. It is easy to react poorly to the events in our lives. But as
Christians we are called beyond gut reactions, and living by emotional
responses. We are called to be reflections of Jesus, of the very character of
God, in this world. It is not always easy to do this but we are often the only
bit of Jesus those around us ever see.
Prayer:
Jesus, Sometimes I am angry. Sometimes I am
disappointed. Sometimes I am frustrated or simply overwhelmed. Lord, I confess,
that it is my desire to act and respond from places of hurt, to allow my emotional
responses dictate my actions and my attitude. Help me to pauce, take a deep
breath and rely on you and allow your goodness, your grace, your mercy to burn
through my instinctual reactions and instead act in ways that that show those
around me who you are, instead. Help me to better reflect your nature, your
character in my daily life. Amen
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