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