Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: May we all have a positive perspective despite hard times
I want to thank you for reading our devotion today from the Open Bible Baptist Church. The thought that is upon my heart for you today is "The Blessing of a Positive Perspective," and my text is Philippians 12-18. "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." (KJV)
In today's text, the believers in Philippi were concerned for Paul and also the furtherance of the ministry. The apostle Paul played an important role in the formation of this local assembly and also in their spiritual growth, but when Paul wrote this letter to them, he penned it from a Roman prison. It may be that these believers in Philippi wondered if their Man of God would become discouraged, or maybe even so disappointed in his set of circumstances that the very future of their church would be in jeopardy! Have you ever been disappointed by a person who was an important part of your spiritual growth or maybe even disappointed by something that happened to that person? Many times, we can place more confidence and hope in people (who often fail) rather than in our Savior (who will never fail His children).
I'm sure these Philippian believers were disheartened by Paul's circumstances and Paul, knowing this, wanted them to see that the ministry is not about a man, but instead, it is God's work! One of the greatest ways Paul demonstrated the power of God and the inability of circumstances to hinder God's purpose and plan was through his "upward look," or to put it in plainer words, his positive attitude even in the darkest of circumstances.
May we as well have an "upward look" and a positive perspective in our life even if our circumstances are not ideal. God has promised us that He will never abandon His children, no matter what, as we see in Hebrews 13:5. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (KJV)
Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.