April 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:

¹Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³And I intreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
¹⁴Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
¹⁵Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
¹⁶For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
¹⁷Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
¹⁸But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
²⁰Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
²¹Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
²²All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Devotional

What an example the apostle Paul was, both as to the doctrine he preached and as to the life he lived! The Philippians had heard him preach; they had learned the truth, the doctrine of salvation, from him; they had received it into their hearts, and also they had observed his life and conduct. Now the apostle tells them, do the things ye have heard and seen in me, and assures them, that then the God of peace shall be with them. This seems to be a very bold statement. How many ministers today would dare to tell their congregations the same thing? And yet all ministers should be ex­amples to their flocks, as Peter admonishes: "Feed the flock of God . . . not for filthy lucre . . . neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." So also Paul admon­ishes Timothy: "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity (love), in Spirit, in purity." But we must not forget that Paul, when he said, "Be ye followers of me, " (as he did repeatedly), he did not imply, that he was the great leader in his own strength and wisdom, but as he explains him­self: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." He even says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." He writes to the Thessalonians: "Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord."

Where that is the case, where people are true followers of Christ, walking in the truth there the God of peace shall be with them, and they shall bless and glorify his name.

Prayer

O God of peace, sanctify us wholly: may our whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we not lose ourselves in the things of this world but may we remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; that we have a living Saviour who will come again to judge the living and the dead. Fill our souls with a longing for his coming, and when He comes, may we be found watching and praying. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 3:17; 1 Cor. 5:11; 11:1, Eph. 5:1, 1 Thess. 1:6.

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