23rd May 2025

23rd May 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Philippians 1:18b-26 focus v25-26)


Message (Alan Burke)


So many times as I’ve worked through Philippians in what Paul has said I’ve been humbled. I’m sure the church in Philippi would have likewise been humbled by the words of Paul to them. After all he was a man who was languishing in prison not knowing with any certainty what the next day would bring. He though was convinced that he would remain in the body and return to them so their boasting in Christ would abound. What we see in these words was the reality for Paul that to live was Christ. He in everything was looking to the glory of his Lord and it is one that would have been humbling to the Church in Philippi as they heard these words, the love and compassion of this man towards them was clear and it should be humbling for us, his attitude in all the faced. 


Paul was living for the glory of God, for him, to live is Christ and to die is gain, to live was to do the work of Christ, to continue on living for Christ, his life would be an encouragement to the church, to help, to build it up, it would be for the glory of his God in Christ Jesus. But is it that it for us, are our lives lived for his glory, are our lives an encouragement to the church? You don’t need to be a minister to live for the glory of Christ, to be an encouragement to the church, you don’t need to give up your job, stop worrying about the weeds and painting the fence but even if you are old and struggle with pains, or you are able to run laps round the playground we can live where we are for the glory of God.


This is what we are made for, in the words of the What is the chief end of man? Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28).  Whatever we do, so in the everyday common activities and callings in life began to take on a new significance and a new motivation when we know this, those everyday tasks that we might otherwise see as insignificant should be done all to the glory of God. That is what Paul was living for, while in prison or if released he was living for his Lord and no area of life for him was to be excluded and it should be the same for us. 


It doesn’t matter whether you are a farmer, or a factory worker, a nurse or nuclear scientist, retired or retraining, God uses his people in what ever they do, what ever stage or season of life they are at, in the different situations they find themselves in the ordinary day by day run of the mill things for his glory, so that he may be glorified in all places, at all times. Since it is God’s eternal purpose that we his people are to live to praise His glory (Eph 1:6), Let us therefore purposefully live to the glory of God in our lives in what ever we do!


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q91 How do the Sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A. The Sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.
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