An accident occurred.
Life changed for them. Nothing would ever be the same. Ever.
Their dreams died the night of the accident . . . vanished . . . in a moment.
What would you do if you were in their circumstance?
What would you do if you knew with complete confidence that God was present and doing a good work in that circumstance?
What would you do in the circumstances that you are in now . . . if you had complete confidence God is present and doing a good work?
Look at the Apostle Paul . . . an historic moment in time . . . the occasion has been marked. The church had just begun . . . Paul was assigned by God to build the church . . . he was imprisoned . . . his enemies were working to discredit and bring him down. It did not seem like it was going to work . . . but Paul had encountered Christ . . . and changed. So, Paul united his life in the ongoing-active-never-ending presence of Christ. He had confidence that God was doing a good work . . . confidence that nothing and no one could stop the work of God. Even so . . . who could have imagined thousands of years later . . . through adversity and adversaries . . . opposition . . . persecution . . . the church continues today? Paul wrote: . . . according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Paul had earnest expectation and hope:
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Paul had confidence . . . an earnest expectation and hope . . . in the presence and activity of God . . . knowing God was doing a good work.
Pray: God, I need you to live in an earnest expectation and hope. You are mighty to save!
Christ followers are enabled by the Spirit of God to live with a fearless boldness, confidence, and courage despite adversity and adversaries. The Christ follower sees beyond the circumstance, knowing that God is at work.
The thing is . . . it comes down to living confidently in Christ . . . God with us . . . confident there is always more . . . . whether in life or death. Would you do what Paul did? Paul defined his actions by a few powerful words: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . confidently in Christ.
Pastor Kerrie
(interAct written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)
kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ interAct
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