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“Christ’s
Offer Now Deals Us Contending Truth! "(C.O.N.D.U.C.T)”
Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher
SCRIPTURE:
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you
or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in
one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without
being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to
them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that
by God.” (Philippians 1:27-28, NIV)
Approach Question:
How do you conduct yourself in life?
OBSERVATION/INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what could ‘whatever
happens’
refer to?
It came to my mind that it may refer to what is happening with
Paul in prison or it may refer to whatever happens to the saints in
Christ in their life. Whatever the reason is, there is a command to
follow:
'conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ. '
INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself the significance of Paul saying
'in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of
Christ?'
To answer that, I asked myself what
is the 'Gospel of Christ?'
What came to my mind was understanding the role of man-God.
Man and God were together.
Man sinned and rebelled from God.
When that happened, a huge chasm was created separating man from God
because God in His Holiness cannot allow sin to enter into His presence.
Through the ages, man has tried to do everything he could to reach God
mostly through his good works but everything he did was as filthy rags
to God and did not create a bridge to reach God. Whatever he does falls
down the chasm.
Finally, God in His love knowing the state of mankind from the beginning
took the role of reconciliation upon Himself. He sent His only begotten
Son Jesus Christ into the world so man can be reconciled to God if man
would be willing to walk on the bridge to God.
Jesus Christ became that bridge that connected the huge chasm separating
man from God. Now man could walk over the bridge and reach God. To be
able to get access to the bridge, man had to acknowledge that he cannot
ever reach God by his own good works and his ways. No matter what he
does, he will always fall until He looks to the cross of Jesus Christ.
It is at the cross that man realizes while he was yet a sinner Christ
Jesus died on the cross to save him.
Man had to accept the free price that was paid for him as God's gift of
grace. Those who looked to the cross were covered in Christ's blood
which became the only way that man could have entrance to the bridge and
reach God. Looking to the cross meant confessing their sins and
repenting of their sins asking Christ's forgiveness and Christ's
cleansing blood to cover them and wash them whiter than snow.
Now with Jesus in man's life, the good works that come out of him are a
result of the Holy Spirit working in his life. Now man in gratitude to
God cannot help but serve the Lord in love and devotion.
Even when man messes up, the Lord's forgiveness and blood is there to
cover him when he looks to Jesus. Now man is free and can be with God as
His Salvation.
For me that is the Gospel in a nutshell which can be summarized by John
3:16.
OBSERVATION:
I asked myself why does Paul tell them to
'conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ?'
The answer is reflected in the ‘if-then’ or ‘cause-effect’
relationship:
If (you conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ)
then,
Whether (I come and see you) or (I only hear about you in my absence),
I will know that you stand firm in one spirit,
contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.
INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself why is that
significant?
Paul makes the saints in Christ know regardless of the senses he uses
such as seeing or hearing, if they are conducting themselves in the
right way, he will know about three things occurring in their lives as a
starting point:
Standing firm in one spirit.
Contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.
Not being frightened in any way by those who oppose them.
These things in effect would show them ‘being saved by God’ while those
who oppose them ‘being destroyed’.
Interpretations/Application:
I asked myself what does it mean
‘to stand firm in one spirit’?
I realized it means being united in the faith following the same
Gospel of Christ. This meant for me, even when people claim to be a
particular denomination, the denomination should not be the focal point
of the Gospel. Rather Jesus Christ should be the focal point for the
Gospel to be seen and heard in our lives. For the Good News is Jesus
Christ. Once that is realized there should be no compromise or budging
but standing firm in one spirit.
It was interesting to realize that ‘you’ was used 7 times, once as
'yourself'. I saw the ‘you’ representing the community of believers
receiving the command and it’s outcome if followed. Paul was addressing
the community of believers with his letter rather than an individual
person. This meant as a community they were to stand firm in one spirit.
But it could also be taken for each believer who follows the command.
I asked myself what does it mean
‘contending as one man for the faith of the
Gospel?’
What came to my mind was boxing. When you are a boxer contending for a
championship, there is preparation involved before the match. When match
time comes you still contend for that championship which involves
putting yourself on the frontlines against your opponent. There are
times that the contender will fall but gets up again. There are punches
exchanged back and forth too. At times, there is a knockout during the
contending part.
What does it have to do with contending as one man
for the faith of the Gospel?
The analogy is not complete but the boxer can be seen as the Christian
who contends for the faith of the Gospel. The opponent can be Satan
using the forms of pantheism, relativism, pluralism, nilhism,
existentialism, determinism, and other kinds of 'isms' and oppositions
such as temptations
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you fight those opponents whether
they are your professors non-biblical views, your friends views, views
of evolution, atheism, etc, there will be times you will take punches
that will hurt and also bring you down. They could be mostly figurative
punches but not always.
But with Jesus Christ on your side, if you keep focused on Him and the
community of believers He has given you to be at your ring side, you
will get up to contend. You cannot do it on your own as a lone-ranger
Christian. If you try to defeat Satan on your own without help, you
yourself could get knocked out. That will not be a pleasant sight.
The key is contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel where ‘one
man’ could refer to the help taken from the community of believers in
Christ. For that to happen, we cannot be a lone-ranger.
Interpretation/Application:
I asked myself what does it mean
‘not being frightened anyway by those who oppose you?’
I learned it means not giving up or throwing in the towel while
contending for the faith of the Gospel. It also means not letting any
kind of fright stop us whether it be ridicule from our professors,
ridicule from our peers, etc when we stand for the Gospel even if they
are hurting punches of persecution, prosecution, etc.
The effect of doing it is two-fold:
Those
opposing us will know that their way of living can lead to destruction!
Our way of
living in Christ can lead to Salvation from God.
IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the
implications for my own life?
I learned the purpose of today's devotional was for me to conduct
myself in a way worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so others can come
to know Jesus by the way I live my life.
HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING
C.O.N.D.U.C.T:
There have been times people have said, "And you are supposed to be a
Christian, if that's what being a Christian is about, I don't want to
have anything to do with you or this Jesus you follow." If people
accuse me this way for speaking out against sin in word and deed, I
don't have a problem with that. But, if it is because of my selfish
conduct, I have a problem with that. I am not where I want to be in my walk with Jesus or where I
should be when it comes to my walk with Jesus Christ. If anything, even
after all these years, there are tears and fears, that my conduct at
times has been detrimental to my peers. I have exhibited qualities of
critical attitude and rebellion multiple times. I realize how easy it is
to follow the ways of the dark side that seem so alluring at times. I
learned a lot by watching, 'Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith' which I have
reviewed in detail. But, I did not need Star Wars to reveal to me about
my conduct.
The Word of God shows me how frail and weak I am without the
Gospel of Jesus Christ directing my conduct. It is when I am focused on
the Gospel of Jesus Christ is when I have peace, joy, humility, courage,
and so on. The Fruit of the Spirit is seen in my life when I let Jesus
transform me by His grace. His grace not only justifies and saves me but
it sanctifies me too. Where I have faltered is not in the JUSTIFIED BY
GRACE part, for I know my Salvation is secure in Christ by His grace.
Where I falter is in the SANCTIFICATION part but that's why it is called
SANCTIFICATION for it is a process. The Lord Jesus is reminding me
though my conduct is not always something that the Lord is proud of, He
is sanctifying me daily by His grace and not leaving me to where I am.
Even in my sin, He loves me too much to leave me there. Through pruning
and at times cutting which can be like a knife of fire, Jesus is making
me all He wants me to be so my conducts reflects me being a child of the
Most High! Praise the Lord!
I am a very sensitive person by nature and have
felt very guilty when Jesus is spoken badly because of my attitude and
conduct. There is an element of shame involved too that I let my Lord
and Savior down and also kept others from Him because of my attitudes.
When I don't walk in the Spirit, I fulfill the lust of the flesh and all
the flesh wants for me. I give into my human nature and all
rationalizations seem wonderful but that's how Satan works as an angel
of light to deceive and destruct.
I also realized conducting myself in a manner worthy of the Gospel does
not mean that I remain silent when injustice is happening in word and
deed but I do speak out against sin. A lot of times Christians think all
we should do is love instead of speaking out against sin in love. I
believe we need to speak out against sin in word and deed but in a right
way.
I am reminded constantly,
"Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
(Galatians)
Thanks be to
God, it is 'Not by might, nor by power, but
by my Spirit, says the Lord' (Zechariah)
The Lord Jesus lifts me up even when I conduct
myself in a manner unbecoming of a follower of Christ. I thank Jesus so
much for that. When I mess up, Jesus is not there to condemn me as
Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery but to point my wrong
to me using people like my loving wife
Chandra, my mommy,
Edwin, Marie, Pastor Hugo, Pastor Ed,
Calvin, Daniel, etc.
I thank the Lord Jesus for the
lessons, He has taught me and bringing to my attention. Conducting
ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not
anything I can do on my own. How can selfish beings by nature do
unselfish things except for the GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST being
imparted in a person's life to transform them by His justification and
sanctification. In His promises will I rest knowing my Savior and Lord is Mighty to Save and will lift me up.
Though I fall because of sin, I will not remain
there because I am not my own but bought with the precious Blood of the
Lamb of God who was slain for me. It is His blood that washes me clean,
I see. One day, all that He wants, I will be. For He paid the Ultimate
ransom, so Father God, I can come to thee! Praise the Lord!
"There is now no condemnation to those who are
in Christ Jesus, for the life giving Spirit has freed us from the power
of sin and death" (Romans 8:1)
I ask you now dear friends, how do you
conduct yourself in life?
Dear friends, I learned that as saints in Christ Jesus, we ought to conduct
ourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so those around
us (Christians or pre-Christians) whether they see us or hear about us
can know that we stand firm in one spirit, contend as one man for the
faith of the Gospel, and not being frightened by those who oppose us
whether it be in school, in the workplace, or in the home!
Then everyone will see that the Gospel is worthy to be followed and that
is because of the reality in Jesus Christ and our lives individually and
corporately reflect the Spirit of Jesus Christ in us.
By the way we live in front of our professors, peers, parents, etc will
show others that there is destruction involved for their lives
spiritually without Jesus Christ and there is Salvation involved in
people’s lives who have Christ with them.
May we not let opposition stop us from the way we conduct our lives for
the sake of the Gospel! Amen!
"Christ’s Offer Now Deals Us Contending Truth! "(C.O.N.D.U.C.T)/"How
do you C.O.N.D.U.C.T yourself in life?"
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for offering
us deliverance with contending Truth. We Oh Lord need your help to
conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel so that people around
us can see or hear that we have stood firm in the spirit, contending as
one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened by those that
oppose us. In this way, we thank you that those who do oppose the Gospel
can know that they are in danger of destruction but those who are with
you are saved by God. Use us as your vessels wherever we are. And Lord,
when we do fall and mess up, please help us to get up and go on. We
thank you for being there as our Good Shepherd. When we get dirty, you
clean us up, when we are bruised you can heal those wounds for you heal
the broken hearted and bind up their wounds. Thank you so much Jesus for
your Word. Help us to live for you faithfully. I 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 1:22-26:
What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based on?"By
Ramesh C. Reddy
(May 30, 12, 6:27 a.m.)
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 |
