Wherever you go, there you are

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sanctification”

Our Bible verse for today: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Wherever you go, there you are”

Our devotionals this week have largely focused on the state of our society. We have considered how difficult things are now, and how difficult they are likely to get in the future for Christians as we continue to serve, minister, and share the Good News of the gospel in a culture that is increasingly uninterested in and even hostile to our faith.

This morning, I want to call our attention to Paul’s encouraging attitude as expressed in his letter to the Philippians. In 3:13-14 he wrote about perseverance despite circumstances. In 4:10-14 he wrote about how he had learned to be content in all circumstances – even in intense hardship, and that he knew the Holy Spirit would strengthen him in Christ to face whatever had to be faced. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Because Philippians 4:13 was true of Paul, he had the endurance and determination to persevere no matter what he faced. His attitude was that he would lean into it, push forward, and just keep on keeping on, and he could do that because Jesus strengthened him to do so.

But please don’t miss the fact that Paul “learned” how to be that way. He said so in Philippians 4:11 where he wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.” Over decades of faithful discipleship and the subsequent spiritual growth that came with it, Paul had learned and grown into a spiritually mature saint who was strong and confident in the Lord. So, as he sat there in his incarceration, an old and sick man near the end of his life, he brought that spiritual maturity with him into that situation. That explains why he was able to write the things he wrote in Philippians.

God is using your current circumstances and your current discipleship practices to prepare you for what you will face tomorrow. You are learning and growing. Your discipleship practices, your faithful service, your trust in the Lord now, is molding and shaping you into the man or woman God wants you to be, and all of that is preparing you for whatever the future may bring.

There’s an old saying that reminds us, “Wherever you go, there you are.” In other words, you bring yourself with you wherever you go. Whoever and whatever you are, that is what you have brought with you into this new situation.

This is why good discipleship practices are so important. Discipleship practices are the tools the Lord uses to mold and shape you. Therefore, the more serious you are as a disciple, the more spiritual growth you will experience and the more prepared you will be to face whatever it is the future holds for you.

Wherever you go, there you are. You bring yourself with you wherever you go. The person you are becoming today will be the person you bring with you into tomorrow. So, who are you becoming today, and is that the kind of person you want to be when you arrive in tomorrow?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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