Devotionals

Philippians 3:1-14
1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


For King David, it was lust. For Moses, anger, For Peter, lack of self-control. We've all got one (at least) so we may as well ADMIT IT.

What I'm talking about is a problem in our lives that gets in the way of our relationship with God. Even people who seem to have it all together -King David, for example - CAN LET A TEMPTATION IN THE WEAK AREA LEAD TO SIN. When that happens, it's a matter of paying the price for the sin. In his case, he paid for it through the death of his son and with lifelong regret.

Thinking about this, it would be easy to buy into the philosophy of our day. We could say, well, it wasn't David's fault that he committed adultery. It was his environment. Or he was just fulfilling a natural impulse. Or it wasn't really wrong after all.

Think about of experiences ahead of you. But you may also be struggling with some problem that will surely sidetrack you in your efforts to please God. If you don't take care of it now, you may struggle with it for years to come.

It may be something sexual, or some other lifestyle problem, such as alcohol or other drugs. It may be anger, which threatens to destroy your relationships. It may be dishonesty, or A TONGUE THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL - either with profanities, gossiping, or HATEFUL WORDS. It may be a disinterest in spiritual things.

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?? Don't wait till it does its damage. Turn it over to God, flee the temptation, and seek to overcome it with God's help. You'll be glad you did.