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“Savior's Precious Encouragement Comforts In All Lives! (S.P.E.C.I.A.L)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." (Philippians 1:12)

Observation:
I asked myself what cause-effect relationship do I see here?
BeCAUSE of what has happened to Paul, the EFFECT is that it has really served to advance the Gospel.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of the cause-effect relationship here?
When Paul mentions about himself:  'what has happened to me', he is actually rejoicing in the Lord, encouraging himself, and the Philippians not to feel bad for him.  It is really hard for the Philippians to think anything good can come out of this and Paul understands that so he uses the expression: 'really served to advance the Gospel'. He is basically letting the Philippians know though he is in jail, it is still a time for joy and His identity is in Christ because it is knowing Christ and letting Christ be known as Paul is known by Christ is what makes Paul feel special enough to be able to encourage the Philippians.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
I want to know Christ more and let Christ be known as I am known by Christ. No matter what circumstances I face in my life, it should be a reason to rejoice in the Lord if I find my identity in Christ knowing that I am special and precious in His sight and that He uses all things to work together for good to them that trust God and are fitting into His plans. For me that means finding my identity in Christ is what will help promote the Gospel because instead of complaining I will be thankful, praising the Lord.

HOW THE GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.P.E.C.I.A.L:

When we feel special, it is also because of knowing in our separation, the Lord Jesus has been using our lives to advance the Gospel for His glory. Just as the Philippians missed Paul very much and Paul wanted to be with them but was encouraging them from prison, we encourage each other in the Lord knowing we are special in the Lord's sight and no good thing will He withhold from those He loves.

I learned the purpose of today's devotional is to know that I can feel special in the Lord's eyes no matter what is happening around me that He will use it to advance the Gospel. Wow, though situations can be painful, Jesus can use those situations for good just as Paul shared.

I ask you now dear friends,  how can you feel special when things are going so wrong in your life?
Dear friends, when things are not going people's way many people don't usually feel special. If anything they might feel like a loser or a hopeless cause. The things that have gone wrong could also pile up on them and that makes them live in the negative past. Paul could have kept thinking or saying 'only if' or 'what if' for what happened to him, yet he was using this negative circumstance as a positive opportunity for the Gospel. He knew his place with the Lord. My mom did the same thing when it came to my dad's situation.

It was hard for any of us to feel special when my dad went into cardiac arrest but I praise the Lord that though He was bedridden for 3 months, my mommy got to read him the Word of God almost everyday from Gospel of Matthew to Revelation including the Psalms. I don't even remember how many times my mom finished the New Testament aloud so my dad could hear the Word of God. Later, our mom shared with us in the hospital that my dad gave his life to Christ and the night he gave his life to Christ is the night the Lord Jesus took away all the pain and took him home to be with him in Heaven!

My mommy found her identity in Christ and knew even in our sorrowful situation, the Gospel can be advanced. Thank you Jesus. Through this all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was advanced for His honor and glory because a dear friend of mine, Ryan, now Dr. Ryan Li, told me when he looked at my dad's charts, he saw how in the report, one of the medical students who looked after my dad had written there about the faith the Reddy family had in Jesus and how strong it was without being shaken even though their dad was in the ICU. It was special to hear about that because the medical student's religious background was that of an Indian Hindu. She was so impacted that she wrote about Jesus in the medical charts during her debriefing time. She was specifically speaking about my mom's faith in Christ through this terrible hardship. My mom did get to speak to her about Jesus a little. I got to share about Jesus with my dad's dialysis doctor who was Jewish. He did not believe in miracles, let alone Jesus but I shared with him that my dad can be healed if Jesus chooses to. I shared with him how even in this century, miracles have happened through the power of Jesus Christ and we will not give up.

My mom got to share her faith with so many in the hospital. Pastor Hugo would come and visit us to be a counselor for my mom, praying with her and us. It was a time of blessing in times of sorrow. Even though my dad went to be with the Lord Jesus, and could not be healed physically, the greatest miracle is the miracle of the healing of the soul that he could give his life to Jesus and how God gave our entire family confidence of that. My dad is with Jesus now and though we miss him, we know he is special in the eyes of the Lord and so are we. Through the years in different kinds of pain, the Lord Jesus has made me feel special.

It was very painful when I had to be away from my sweet wife Chandra for almost 18 months except when I had off from work when I would see her. I love how my wife used those opportunities to advance the Gospel in India with those she came across. She became a blessing to those that were there. Thank you Jesus. Even with us being apart because of a visa situation, she found her identity in Christ to feel special. Now, after all this time she is with me even as I write this devotional. Thank you Jesus for your timing!

Our family has experienced that and we always need Christ in our lives to strengthen us and help us through. Even in the worst of circumstances, look to the Lord who wants to carry you and show you things unimaginable to you. It is in times like these when things go wrong in our lives, we are vulnerable to Satan's attacks if we are not on our guard. So let us look to Christ, the Solid Rock on which we should stand, all else is sinking sand.

Allow the Lord to work through your pain. Give Him room to come and heal you. Whatever wounds or scars you are facing, His love for you is so strong that He will walk you through this pain. He will also give you strength and endurance to bear. For in Christ is your hope of glory.  I have been through some rough times in the past so I speak from experience.

"Savior's Precious Encouragement Comforts, In All Lives (S.P.E.C.I.A.L)"/"How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?"

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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2012 DEVOTIONALS:

 Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response in life based on?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 18, 12, 8:20 a.m.)

Philippians 1:8:   "How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 17, 12, 6:32 a.m.)

Philippians 1:7: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E. alone?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 16, 12, 9:55 a.m.)

Philippians 1:6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 15, 12, 10:54 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 14, 12, 08:38 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" (May 11, 12, 09:53 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1-2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" (May 09, 12, 7:30 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" (May 10, 12, 9:01 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of being a sinner?" (May 08, 12, 8:05 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life? (May 07, 12, 7:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy