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Wednesday, October 31st (Day Seventeen)
Read:
Philippians 4:10-20
"...a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God."
Reflect:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I have seen that on
the t-shirts of more Christian athletes than I can count. Paul had it on his
t-shirt, too, but it did not have anything to do with winning the state
football championship. Paul needed the strength of Christ to learn to be
content in every circumstance.
The Philippian church encouraged him in this. They were his partners in
spreading the gospel "to the ends of the earth." The Philippian church was not
a rich church, but they used what they had to support Paul in his mission to
extend the kingdom of God to every corner of the earth.
Whenever we use our resources to extend Christ's kingdom - whether it is to
support a missionary or build a kingdom hub in the heart of Houston - we are
making "a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." Paul
uses the language of worship here because these gifts enable worship. They are
given as an act of worship in the hopes that they will be used to bring people
to worship the true God instead of the false gods of our culture. Can you make
such a sacrifice? You can through Christ who strengthens you.
Apply:
- Do you struggle with contentment? How can a life of generosity make you more content?
- Do you view giving as an act of worship? If not, how could viewing it as such transform your attitude toward generosity?
Pray:
- That the Lord would strengthen you to be content in whatever circumstance he has placed you.
- That you would more and more view sacrificial giving as an act of worship, and that the Lord would continue to use the gifts you give to extend his kingdom.
