Senior Pastor’s Devotional
Day 54 Movement Control Order – “Strategic Psalm 91 Watch”

SCRIPTURES TO READ:- PHILIPPIANS 3:17-21
LESSON TO BE LEARNT: “JOY – BY LIVING WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND.”

Christians have a dual citizenship – on earth and in heaven. 

The struggle that a believer go through is when our earthly mindedness hinder our spiritual growth and understanding. 

Examples:-
*In the Old Testament, Lot’s wife lose her life because she could not let go of Sodom.
*Moses refused the pleasures and treasures of Egypt because he had something eternal that God has given.

In this passage, Paul emphasized about our citizenship. 

1. In Phil. 3:18 – “For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears….” Why was Paul saddened? 
-Paul was saddened by many who are living like ‘enemies of the cross’ and whose mind is on earthly things.’ He is saddened by the immaturity and inconsistent living.
-In today’s context, it is like living a double life – a ‘secular life and a spiritual life.’

2. What was Paul’s advice in verse 17?
We must emulate the good example of Paul and LIVE ACCORDING to what God has instructed. In other words, we must not believe one thing and live another. There is a standard to keep!

3. In Phil 3:19b, Paul said that ‘their mind is on earthly things.’ Now, turn to Colossians 3:1, 2 and 5 see what it says? (Colossians 3:5 says. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

All the above are characteristics of an earthly mind. This is our check list.

4. Consider Phil. 3:20,21 – what are the things we can look forward to, as the children of God?

*God will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body and thus be freed from diseases; pain; ageing and limitations. 
*Our Savior will return to receive us and thus deliver us from the evils of this world and into His Glorious Eternal Kingdom.)

THINK – What does this pandemic mean and how it would have impacted you if you did not know Jesus and His Word?

I think our answer would be that it would be frightening and even depressing if we did not have God’s Word. God has forewarned that this would happen and that Jesus would be coming soon. Therefore, it is not all gloom and doom.

We can have Joy – by living with the future in mind!

Ps Lawrence