A Right Eager Hope

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Today’s Text: Philippians 1:19-26

Key Verse: Philippians 1:20 (ESV): “As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

The word used by the apostle to express his eager hope is that of a bold or courageous desire. It was his plan to continue living for the gospel. His utmost in life is that Christ will be honored regardless of whether he lives or dies. Paul’s lifestyle proposition for himself and us is that as long as we are given the opportunity to live, we should be consumed with Christ’s concerns, values, and mission. So that we may gain the presence of Christ when we leave this temporary world. Paul wrote this letter when he was still a prisoner in Rome, but his earnest desire and hope was not, primarily, that he might be released; but it was that, in all circumstances, he might be able to honor the gospel. We too must be much more eager to serve the cause of Christ than to save our lives. Self must be a secondary consideration for us.

Indeed, it would be so great if every child of God could shape such earnest expectation and hope this year: that we should be ashamed in nothing. We need the consciousness that it is a shame if we do not yield to Jesus all areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It is shame if people of the world cannot see us living for Jesus. Let us ask ourselves: Can we be resolved, this new year, like Paul, that our purpose is to be our best for God’s glory? Are we ready to surrender our will, our ego, pride, undue thoughts and consideration for ourselves so that we can obey and follow Jesus?

Quote for the Day: “Opposing thoughts can cohabit the heart of a natural man. But what makes the heart of a believer is that he shuts out spiritually abase thoughts, and set goals of higher calling in Christ.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for Your word today. Please fill my lips with Your truth so that I both speak and live them out. Fix my mind and heart on the glory of Your Son and the sufficiency of His sacrifice; daily as I live — in Jesus’ name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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