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Devotions based on week 10 of Joy in the Journey: Joy (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

Recently I was listening to a session from the 2025 Global Leadership Summit presented by John Maxwell.  John Maxwell has been a voice of leadership for decades, yet continues to encourage both leadership and the Christian faith.  

One of the common questions he gets is, “What is my purpose?”  He surprises the person asking by saying, “I know your purpose!” Excitedly, the person desires to know.

His answer is based on Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

No matter what we do in life, our profession or vocation, he simply said, “Like salt, make things better; like light, make things brighter.” When we, as God’s children see our purpose from God is to be in the world to reflect him, things do get better and things do get brighter.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all.”

What steals our joy is when we wrap up our life in making our name evident to all, our accolades, or our accomplishments.  We look for joy in people knowing us, liking us, or following us.  When they don’t…joy departs.

But the Spirit of God is shifting our focus from self-promotion to our Savior-promotion.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

The Lord is always near.

This is always true. It is evident when the character of Christ is reflected in and through us.

And when the presence of the Lord is real and the character of Christ is alive in and through us, we have a deep, real purpose that gives a settled grounding whenever and wherever we live and however and whatever we do.

Always.

And it will always bring joy.

Always.

Try it today.  Wherever God has you, simply be reminded of this truth: The LORD is near.  His presence is by you. Then head into your tasks with one purpose: Let your gentleness be evident to all.  Make things better and brighter.

 

Apply: Take this verse to heart and do one thing that gives evidence of the presence and gentleness of the LORD and make something or someone better or brighter.  Notice…does it bring you joy?  Try it again tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being gentle and humble in heart with me. Teach me to show that same gentleness to everyone I encounter. Help me to remember that You are near, that You see each conversation, each reaction. May my tone, words, and actions reflect Your grace. Let my life be a light that points others to Your love. Amen.

Devotions based on week 10 of Joy in the Journey: Joy (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Me: Always? Wait, you mean…always?

God: Yep.  Always.

Me: But how?

  How can I always have joy and rejoice?

Don’t you know life gets hard?

Don’t you understand the difficult situation I am in?

Don’t you know the loss I just experienced?

God: Yes. Yes, I do.

Me: But how?  How am I supposed to rejoice ALWAYS?  That seems really tough and to be honest a bit unrealistic.

God: Perhaps. If you are equating joy and happiness, you are missing the point.  Happiness is what you feel when external circumstances are good and your experiences are wonderful.  Happiness comes when you get a raise after showing great skill at your job.  Happiness is passing a test or enjoying a great evening with your spouse.

Me: So is happiness wrong?

God: No, not at all.  In fact, I created this world for you to enjoy and I want you to experience the emotion of happiness.  But happiness doesn’t last and I too admit it’s hard to be happy in all circumstances.

Me: I agree!

God: But I do want you to have joy at all times.

Me: So what is joy?

God: Joy is a gift I give you when you rest in my unchanging promises, my eternal Word and my grace that I have shown to you.  Notice what I inspired Paul to write, “Rejoice IN THE LORD always.”  I didn’t say rejoice in a circumstance, I said, “Rejoice in the LORD!”

Me: So you are saying joy is more than an emotion?

God: Yes, it is more a state of being that settles deep in your soul by my Spirit so that no matter what the external circumstance, you have authentic joy rooted in me and my love for you.

Me: So when life gets hard or I experience loss or am in a difficult situation, you still want me to have joy.

God: That’s right.

Me: And you want me to find joy by remembering that even in a difficult situation you are with me?

God: Exactly.

Me: And if I experience loss, I have not lost your forgiveness and love and grace?

God: Now you are understanding.

Me: And no matter what circumstances are around me and the emotions they create I have a settled heart knowing that your love for me never changes?

God: Exactly!

Me: And that’s what leads me to rejoice?

God: YES!

Me: Always.

God: Yes, always. Can I say it again?  Rejoice!

 

Apply: What is the situation you are facing this morning?  How can the dialogue of this devotion change your perspective to find reasons to rejoice today (and always!)?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me your constant love and grace so that I ALWAYS have a reason to rejoice, no matter what the surrounding circumstances.  AMEN.

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Peace comes when we focus on the reality that unifies us.

Even as Christians we can focus on the differences that divide us.  Yes, there are differences when the truth of God’s Word has to be spoken with clarity and truth, even when it is not accepted.

But there are often issues around Gospel ministry that bring division for things that are not defined by God’s Word, but Satan uses it to cause divide between people.  Music style, ministry leadership, paint color, financial focus and more can all create a lack of unity in a Christian congregation.

So how can we avoid being part of this?

Remember the same truth that Paul did when encouraging Euodia and Syntyche: Their names are written in the book of life…along with all his fellow Gospel workers. 

“Whose names are in the book of life.”

One of the greatest blessings we share in Christ is that our name is written in the Lord’s book of life, assuring us we have an eternity with the Lord. 

Remember of your brothers and sisters who have Jesus as their Savior: You are going to spend eternity with them.

Do you want to take the disagreement with you to the grave?

Do you want Satan to use the disagreement to prevent you from enjoying a relationship Christ created?

Do you want the Gospel to be impeded because you are unwilling to work to resolve a disagreement?

We are going to spend eternity together…let’s enjoy those relationships now!

Paul doesn’t express frustration, but passion for all those in the Philippian congregation to find unity and the peace it brings.  

He doesn’t encourage ignoring it or dismissing or trying to superficially resolve the problem, but rather put start with the unity and destiny we share in Christ.

We all have received forgiveness and grace in Christ.

We all have an eternity in heaven to look forward to.

We all share a common purpose in Christ and the mission of the Gospel.

So I plead with you, to get along with your fellow church members, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Take time to understand.

Take time to have a conversation.

Take time to find a path forward.

Why?

Satan would love to use your difference to cause division.

Satan would love to use your difference to discredit the Gospel.

Satan would love to use your difference to dismiss a relationship.

So don’t let Satan win.

The power of the Gospel unites us.

The reality of forgiveness is common to all of us.

The future of heaven is our eternity together.

So let’s make a commitment to our Savior and church family to do as Paul encouraged the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Apply: Are you in a disagreement with someone at your church?  What step can you do to resolve that difference?  Do you know someone in disagreement? How can you be used to help two others settle a disagreement?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the unity you build by your Spirit.  Lead us to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. AMEN.

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Sometimes peace needs helpers!

Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Whatever was happening with Euodia and Syntyche, Paul had an earnest desire to have them come into agreement.  If he was there, no doubt he would have done what it took to bring the two ladies together and help them come to a resolution of the issue.  He wasn’t there, so he calls on others in the congregation to help these ladies.

“I ask you, loyal yokefellow…”

We don’t know who it is, but someone probably who received the letter or was a main connection point between Paul and the congregation.

Again, the Spirit has his reasons.

Perhaps the reason the “yokefellow” isn’t named is so each one of us can see ourselves in this situation.  When we have a deep connection to the Gospel and a deep love for the cause of the Gospel, we will step into help those that are struggling to agree to bring alignment to the ministry of the Gospel.

Part of being a member of the body of Christ and a local congregation is working together with others for the sake of the Gospel.  It’s easy to find reasons to disagree.  It takes effort to continue to move forward with a unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace.

But the advancement of the Gospel depends on it.

And sometimes the Gospel calls us to get into the mess to help resolve differences.

Why?

Why would Paul ask a “loyal yokefellow” to step in and help these women?

Consider these possibilities:

1. Paul is not present.  He cares about the situation and knows it won’t be resolved without intervention.
2. An outside person is able to carry an objective perspective.  If you are one in disagreement with another, someone to listen and provide unbiased input can be valuable.
3. Another person has different gifts to offer an agreeable solution.
4. A brother or sister may have a stronger spiritual maturity to step in and navigate a tricky relationship issue.
5. The two in conflict trust this person and will value and apply their input.

God puts us together in community with other believers to help one another out.  We’d like to say, “it’s not my problem.”  Paul could have said that as he was miles away imprisoned in Rome.  Why would a disagreement between two ladies cause him concern.

Because he knew every disagreement, discord and issue that broke the unity of Spirit and the bond of peace would eventually impede the spread of the Gospel.

And the last thing he wanted to see was Satan hinder the power of the Gospel by creating division in the church.

So he calls on his “fellow yokefellow” to help.

God calls on you to help.

Unity in God’s church is all of our responsibilities to work at and seek to bring.  We may wish to “stay out of it” but God may have you where you are for the very reason he wants you to get involved in it so unity is restored and the Gospel ministry is preserved.

It’s a privilege.  Embrace it as a “fellow yokefellow’!

 

Apply: Are you “staying out of” a situation where perhaps God is calling you to help settle a disagreement?  Prayerfully consider how you can be an active part of the situation!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for putting me in a Christian congregation to be part of building and maintaining unity and peace around your word and work.  When there is a need for a “fellow yokefellow” to get involved, lead me to say, “Here am I, send me!”

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 

Can’t we all get along?

Most people don’t like conflict, but we often find ourselves in the middle of it.

It happens for legit reasons and sometimes we don’t even know why.

It happens in our workplaces, our homes and even in the church.

We have different opinions.

We have different ministry ideas.

We have different priorities.

We have different understandings of God’s Word of truth.

While differences can be very healthy and good, when differences become divisive between people, the difference matters.

Difference divides people.

Differences detract from ministry.

Differences take time to resolve.

So Paul says, “I plead…”

We don’t know what was happening between Euodia and Syntyche, but the Spirit probably chose to leave it vague to allow us to apply it to every disagreement we have between people in the family of God.

Take time to resolve it!

When there is a difference of opinions, let go of judgment and embrace curiosity to understand the opinion of the other person.  You may have more in common than you do difference.  You may realize you want the same thing, but just have stated it differently.

When there is a difference of ministry ideas, perhaps the opportunity is to ask the question together, “What is best for the advancement of the Gospel?”  Sometimes our personal preferences and ideas are held onto with too much vigor at the detriment of what is best for the ministry of the Gospel.

When there is a difference in priorities or ways of doing things, often just a conversation enables open sharing and engaging a meaningful discussion to get on the same page.

When there is a disagreement on some doctrinal matter based on Scripture, it is important to sit down with the Word of God and let the Word settle the question.  Engaging another Christian leader or pastor may be helpful to settle the matter.  All having a humility before the Word is important to allow the Word to settle the disagreement.

Agreement comes “in the Lord.”

When we let go of personal pride, arrogance, hurt and disappointment we can allow the Lord’s truth, forgiveness and grace to restore relationships.

And when we agree “in the Lord” the agreement is well founded and the work of the Gospel can move forward.

 

Apply: Do you have a disagreement with someone within your church?  Paul pleads with you to agree with them in the Lord!  What is one step you can do before you see them again to begin to resolve the disagreement?

Prayer: Lord, forgive my pride, arrogance or whatever else Satan is using to cause disagreement between me and a brother or sister in Christ.  Let your grace, humility and love be foundational to work to resolve the disagreement and restore unity between us.  AMEN.