As Paul faced the difficulties of imprisonment, he was more concerned about the people in Ephesus than he was about himself. Rather than keeping Tychicus close at hand for his personal benefit, Paul sent him back to bless the people in Asia Minor. Even in his times of difficulty and danger, Paul was more concerned to bless than he was to be blessed. Isn't that a great example to us today? We often get upset about minor inconveniences, and let our being upset ruin our attitude toward everyone around us. Paul's example should convict us and lead us to be a blessing to others regardless of our circumstances.
Video Commentary...
We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:
Father, please forgive me for letting my difficulties ruin my attitude. I want to be a blessing to others regardless of my personal circumstances. Convict me with your Spirit when I begin to focus too much on myself and my personal situations. Expand my heart with your grace so that I can use my inconveniences, problems, struggles, and challenges to be opportunities to share and display your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
"They made God jealous with foreign gods and angry with hateful idols. They made sacrifices to demons, not God, to gods they had never known, new gods...."
"The next morning [after the earthquake released Paul and Silas from their chains and stocks in Philippi,] the city officials sent the police to tell...."
"Rejoice in knowing that you belong to God and that He is conforming you to the image of His Son. See every event of this day as part of that process. Yield to...."
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