I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Philippians 1-4.

    Today’s passage is another one which is chock full of ideas and thoughts which are important to how we live our lives. I am not sure how many of them I will have time to touch on, but I really want to write about a lot of things today. I will start with Paul’s summation about those who preach Christ out of selfish ambition: who cares why they preach? All that should matter is that they preach about Christ. As long as what they preach is the truth about Christ, some will come to know Him because of their preaching. For that matter, even if they preach lies about Christ the Holy Spirit will use their lies to bring some to know Christ. In a similar manner, I do not care why unbelievers choose to read the Bible or listen to God’s word being preached. I have faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in God’s word, to bring those exposed to God’s love to Him.

    Despite the fact that Paul did not care why people preached Christ so long as they did indeed preach Christ, he advises us to do nothing out of selfish ambition. If we humbly value others above ourselves and look out for their interests rather than our own we will discover the life an joy which God promises us. If we serve God and others without grumbling or arguing we will stand out in a way which will draw many to the Lord. Let us embrace suffering and death in service to God because that is the only way to know Christ and experience the great power of God. As denizens of this sinful world we cannot escape death, but if we do not attempt to save ourselves from it, but instead ignore the threat of death in order to serve God we will experience the same resurrection from the dead which Christ experienced. Paul wanted to experience Christ’s suffering so that he could experience Christ’s resurrection. We should seek the same.

    Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians by reminding them to rejoice, even in the face of suffering, especially in the face of suffering. Suffering is proof that God has found us worthy. Paul explains how we can learn to rejoice in the suffering which we experience. Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has already done. I am going to conclude today’s blog with the words Paul uses to conclude his message to the Philippians (what comes after this is just a bit of social business):

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.