Stay In The Light

Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ.
They preach with selfish ambition,
not sincerely,
intending to make my chains more painful to me.
(Philippians 1:17, NLT)


Good Morning,

After playing five innings of baseball for over four hours in the rain and mud, Tim’s game was called because of darkness. Most of the spectators had supposed that the game would be postponed due to rain. That said, I have learned throughout Timothy’s twelve years of playing baseball that weather rarely rules the game; however, light is necessary to play.

Likewise, we can either manage circumstances through the filter of the Light of God or through darkness. The darkness within the adversaries of the Apostle Paul is evident in Philippians 1:

Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition not sincerely:
Paul continued to preach the Good News despite his imprisonment. The chains of his circumstances did not reroute his purpose. Individuals, against Paul, focused on their own interests and advancement. They attempted to distract and divert the Light of Christ Jesus being seen through Paul’s message.

Intending to make my chains more painful to me:
The enemies of Paul focused on hurting him. Throughout the ages, history records the intent of people to destroy the lives of others. Their motivation is centered in the darkness of hate rather than the Light of love. Hate within an individual usually begins through hurt. In turn, the individual who hates attempts to hurt others.

Paul refused to allow the darkness of hate and hurt to control his decision to remain in the Light.

Light is necessary to see through the darkness of circumstances.
Light reveals the Truth of circumstances.
Light empowers individuals to refuse hurt and/or hate.
Choose to stay in the Light.

Learning with you to stay in the Light,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)