The Daily Word

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Paul closes his exhortation in Philippians 4 by a personal recommendation which perhaps is a challenge to each one of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Having considered many aspects that our Christian walk should show, and which would improve our testimony, Paul says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put into practice”.

That is a challenge that none of us could issue, however long we have served the Lord and however close we think we are to Him. As a senior believer in our church, if I went round our congregation and asked each person, even what they have learned or received from me that has moved them onwards in their Christian life, I would be surprised if I got more than 1 or 2 flattering answers. And I couldn’t with a clear conscience, even ask about what others think about hearing or seeing my testimony for the Lord.

But that should never be the case. All of the letters to the churches that we have read many times in the New Testament give us all the guidance and assistance we need to have a testimony like Paul’s BUT we tend to pick and choose what we act on. Paul, could call himself ‘an unprofitable servant’, so what does that make us?

We can have no higher ambition than to follow closely after the Lord and what we see in God’s Word, revealed with willingness of our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we should act upon, otherwise we will never receive the commendation of the Lord. 

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church 

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