Day 12

“So be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:10b-11

Would you drink water that was 99% pure? It sounds good, doesn’t it? Cool, refreshing, clear… I’d probably drink a glass of water at 99% without thinking about it.

Now imagine that the last 1% of impurities was raw sewage?  Like…poo.  There is 1% poo in your water. Would you still drink the water?  Even though one minute ago that water sounded good and inviting at 99% pure?  Surely a little poo in your water wouldn’t hurt? It’s just a little bit!

A perspective shift!

I was challenged once upon a time about a similar perspective on sin.  I try hard, but was unbothered by the ‘small sins’ of life. The ‘acceptable’ sins.  As is most of the greater-Christian culture.  But Christ calls us beyond the 99%, because the leftover 1% is still raw sewage!  He desires a bride that is pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness.  And this pursuit of righteousness is to God’s glory!  We should pursue righteousness whole-heartedly! And not be content with just a little sin.

There is no little sin. There is no big sin.  To God, sin is sin. It was never His desire for us.  Pure. Whole. Blameless. That is our pursuit.  This is our legacy as the bride of Christ.  We should never be content with just a little bit. 99% is not good enough for the King of Kings!

Heavenly Father, Forgive us for letting the ‘little sins’ be okay.  Help our hearts to desire lives that are 100% pure and spotless. Holy Spirit, empower Your people to pursue righteousness, to live differently and to be the glorious bride that Jesus desires.  And when we do mess up, help us to run quickly to the throne of grace where we can find forgiveness and be made clean again and again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Leah Carolan

Day 11

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” Phil. 2:12-13

God cares more about my growth than I do.

God cares more about our growth than we do.

God cares more about our plans, our hopes, our dreams and our future. Because God cares, God works to energize us by His Holy Spirit to do good that fulfills God’s good purpose. God’s Spirit is energizing us so that we will desire to do what pleases God so that God’s good work is carried on to completion.

“What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13, The Message Translation)

Dear God,

Thank You for fulfilling Your good purposes in my life. Guide me into the good plans that You have prepared for me.  I love You and I praise You for the gift of salvation. God, we love You and we praise You for energizing us to do Your good work. Amen.

-Kent Landhuis

Day 10

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6

The Apostle Paul’s confidence in the love and grace of God had no bounds. He knew first-hand of the transformation taking place within himself since the day he was stopped on the road to Damascus by the Incarnate Jesus Christ. I’m sure he never lost sight of that miraculous transforming event which continued within him until he passed from this life into eternity.

That we would have the same confidence! Life is full of unknowns and uncertainty.  Often the “stuff” of life blurs our vision of the purpose God has laid out for us. Indeed, God has a plan for us – a plan that will carry us into eternity. He has provided a bridge to His grace and mercy through the shed blood of His son Jesus Christ. He has illuminated our path through the unknowns of this life. We simply need to trust.

An anonymous poem describes the walk of faith He desires for us:

‘When you come to the edge

Of all light you have known,

And are about to step off into darkness,

Faith is knowing there’ll be something to stand on,

Or you will be taught how to fly.’

Dear Father,

Instill in us a strong faith that will guide us as we walk into the unknowns of life. 

Grant us the confidence that we can trust You in all circumstances.

We ask this in Your son’s holy name, Amen.

-Deborah Steinbaker

Day 9

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. “ Phil. 3:10-11

Have you ever imagined yourself as being a part of the story of Scripture? If so, you can look at the story from a different perspective and are able to feel more intimately what is taking place. Try placing yourself in Philippi, sometime in the late 50’s or early 60’s AD, only 20-30 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The area has been heavily influenced by its military population and secular Greco-Roman worship. Philippi was home to a growing diversity of cultures. Being a larger city, word of the teaching and the crucifixion of the Jewish Messiah would have likely travelled the 6,000 plus miles from Jerusalem to Philippi.

For reference, the most efficient communication method was the official empire messenger system (Cursus Publicus), which carried messages about 50 miles a day with tolerable circumstances. At over 6,000 miles away, that would have taken almost 121 days or about 4 months. And it was not these “government professionals” that carried these messages, it was fellow Christ-followers who were always looking for support to aid them in their efforts. Instead of 50 miles a day, they were more likely to walk up to 20 miles a day, meaning that it could have taken almost a full year to deliver at least one letter.

So, what message could be so important to invest so much time, resources and potentially one’s life into delivering it? The gospel! The gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John would not have even been published yet. Therefore, it was Paul sharing with them, what Jesus Christ and the other apostles had shared with him. He was so inspired by the splendor of the gospel, that he made it is life-long goal to know the Lord in all His glory and power. This may seem strange to the modern reader, but Paul had faith in the Lord’s promise of eternal life to those who follow Him, investing themselves in the “good news” along the way.

Lord, may You renew in us a passion for the advancement of Your gospel, to be continually reminded of Your faithfulness to Your people. You are the light in the darkness, and You are hope to the hopeless. Let us always be seeking after Your glorious and holy name!  Amen.

-Kyle French