Joshua Kennedy's Weekly Devotion

An aircraft can appear to be climbing while its angle puts it at risk of a stall. Pride can create a similar illusion. Recognition, influence, and position may make us feel as though we are rising, even as our attention turns inward and our relationships suffer. In God’s Kingdom, the posture that carries us forward is humility. Paul shows us why in Philippians 2:1–11. His concern is not simply that individual believers become more modest. He wants a church that stands together, cares for one another, and reflects the character of Christ. A Church Called to Stand Together Paul writes to the Philippians from imprisonment, yet his concern reaches beyond his own circumstances. He urges them to live as citizens worthy of the gospel, standing together with one spirit and one purpose (Philippians 1:27). That appeal would have carried weight in Philippi, a Roman colony where citizenship and social status mattered. Against a culture that prized honor and advancement, Paul calls believers to con...

Paul wrote the book of Philippians while imprisoned, yet his letter is filled with joy, confidence, and purpose. He was physically confined, but spiritually and missionally, he was still taking flight. Paul did not deny the pain of his circumstances or pretend that suffering was good. He simply refused to allow his circumstances to determine whether the Gospel advanced, whether Christ was glorified, or whether his life still had purpose. Our circumstances may restrict our movement, but they do not have to restrict our mission. Your Chains Cannot Chain the Gospel Paul declared: “Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.” — Philippians 1:12–13 (NLT) Paul could have viewed his imprisonment as the end of his ministry. Instead, he recognized that God was using it to place him before people he might never have encountered otherwise. His prison became a platform,...

 

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, Your servants, great boldness in preaching Your Word.” — Acts 4:29 NLT Fear does not always make us run. Sometimes it simply makes us quiet . It causes us to hesitate, avoid conversations, shrink back from opportunities, or become overly concerned about what people may think. Acts 4 shows us a church facing real intimidation. Peter and John had been arrested, questioned, threatened, and commanded to stop speaking about Jesus. But when they returned to the believers, the church did something remarkable: They did not pray for less pressure. They prayed for greater boldness. 1. RUN TOWARD COMMUNITY Acts 4:23 tells us that Peter and John immediately returned to the other believers. Pressure did not drive them into isolation. It drove them toward God’s people. Fear becomes stronger when we carry it alone. God designed the church to be a community where burdens are shared, Scripture is remembered, and believers strengthen one another. When ...