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“Christ’s
Help Offers Inspiring Choices Encouraging Saints! (C.H.O.I.C.E.S)”
Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher
SCRIPTURE:
“If I am to go on living in the body, this will
mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am
torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is
better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the
body.” (Philippians 1:22-24, NIV)
Approach Question:
What do you base your choices on?
Observations:
I asked myself what choices was Paul
faced with?
1. Living in the body.
2. Departing from the body.
I asked myself what were the advantages of
both choices?
1. Living in the body-
a. This will mean fruitful labor for me.
b. More necessary for you that I remain in the body.
2. Departing from the body-
a. This will mean being with Christ.
b. This will be better by far than staying imprisoned and chained.
Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Paul
weighing the choices?
Even though Paul saw that departing from the body will allow him to be
with Christ, he was thinking more about others than himself. That is
really amazing that even in chains and imprisoned his mind was on others
than himself. This is evidenced by his response:
“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and
I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will
overflow on account of me.” (Philippians 1:25-26)
I asked myself what ‘this’ meant in ‘convinced of this’ and
realized ‘this’ is referring to ‘living in the
body meaning fruitful labor for me and
more necessary for you’.
I asked myself what choice does Paul make?
So now Paul knows what his choice is going to be which is evidenced by
these statements:
1. I know that I will remain.
2. I will continue with all of you for your progress in the faith.
3. I will continue with all of you for your joy in the faith.
I asked myself why?
“So that through my being with you again
your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account on me.” (Philippians
1:26)
Implications:
I asked myself what are the
implications for my own life?
The purpose of today's devotional is to
realize the importance of making choices that will benefit others more
than me. Paul applied this principle when he decided that 'Living in the
body' will mean fruitful labor for him that will benefit others for
their own growth. I too should make choices that will benefit others
more than me as I focus on Christ and Christ alone. This is what Paul
did. Paul's entire focus was on Christ and the opportunities to use his
time here on earth for Christ. I learned this is not always easy when I
am faced with choices that I feel will give me the most happiness in the
short run but it makes
no sense for me to go after those choices if Christ is not in the center
of those choices.
I ASK YOU:
I ask you now dear friends, what are your choices
based on?
Dear friends, the choices we make should be based on what will glorify
Christ the most whether it be in academia, relationships, career, etc
and be others focused than self-focused. The key in all this is seeking
after God’s will for our lives in every aspect of our lives whatever
area it is in. Standing up and speaking out for what you believe in and
are convicted of will glorify the Lord if what you stand up for and
speak out against is supported by Scripture. This in itself is a choice.
Whatever choices you are faced with, my hope and prayer is that those
choices will be made with Christ being in the center of your life and
the focus of your life. Surrendering your choices in life to Christ does
not mean automatically you will be sent to the remotest places in the
world. A lot of people fear that giving every area of their life to
Christ would mean misery because they cannot get what they want.
What I have learned is that in the long run it is not worth going our
own way if Christ wants us to go in another direction even if it means
giving up what we have always done. I have also learned that whatever
God’s will for us is that it will work out for our good even if we do
not understand it now. Even in suffering we can have the joy of the Lord
as Paul experienced.
Paul's focus was on Christ because he knew
Christ alone is the Hope of Glory and in Him alone can Jew and Gentile
find Salvation because of what Jesus did. I praise the Lord for that.
Jesus went to the cross to save humanity by ransoming us by His precious
blood so our sins can be washed away and we can be set free. Wow! The
Creator of the Universe became the ultimate sacrifice for you and me
based on the choice of love. Because God loved us so much that He sent
Jesus Christ into this world to save us while we were still sinners.
This is amazing to know the choice Jesus made for a fallen humanity. I
thank you Lord!
May we seek Christ now and always in all the choices we are faced with
and may those choices be based on what brings the ultimate glory to
Christ! Amen!
"Christ’s Help Offers Inspiring Choices
Encouraging Saints! (C.H.O.I.C.E.S)"/"What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based
on?"
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that your help
offers inspiring choices encouraging saints. Help us to believe that
always, for in the Spirit it is easy to believe that but in our flesh
the choices you have for us will not seem inspiring to us. So please
help us Lord that whatever choices you have for us we can be encouraged.
I am so grateful for the things you have done in my life. I pray Lord
that there will be no other place we want to be than in your arms of
love. Only your arms of love can hold me still and hold me near whatever
choices I am faced with. Thank you for being my Savior. You know the
choices we all are faced with. We do want you in the center of those
choices so please help us Lord. Thank you so much Jesus that you will
help us and you have called us your very own. Help us to completely
surrender our lives to you, all that we are and do. Whatever your will
is for us, please give us the willingness and strength to bear it. Help
us to walk in faith seeking you Lord as we confess our sins, repent of
our sins, and yield our lives to you acknowledging what you have done
for us at Calvary. Thank you Jesus for the Ultimate Choice you made for
us. Please be our Lord and Personal Savior coming into
our heart and making our heart your home. Thank you Jesus! In Your Name
I Pray Jesus! AMEN!
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 turniLOVINGg 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)
Express Your View
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2012 DEVOTIONALS:
Philippians 1:21:
"Why D.I.E for Christ?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 29, 12, 4:59 a.m.)
Philippians 1:20:
"Where do you need to have C.O.U.R.A.G.E in life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 25, 12, 8:08 a.m.)
Philippians
1:19:"Who
do you C.A.L.L often in life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 24, 12, 8:32 a.m.)
Philippians
1:19:
"What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in
life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 22, 12, 8:21 a.m.)
Philippians
1:15-18:
"How are your M.O.T.I.V.E.S in life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 22, 12, 8:21 a.m.)
Philippians
1:13-14:"What
have your C.H.A.I.N.S done to others in your life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 21, 12, 9:04 a.m.)
Philippians 1:12: "How
can you feel so S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your
life?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 18, 12, 8:20 a.m.)
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
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