1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:12,850 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,470 --> 00:00:18,430 Speaker 1: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:18,590 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,660 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,220 --> 00:00:42,390 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture, Philippians 2. Tonight's scripture reflection 6 00:00:42,790 --> 00:00:46,700 Speaker 1: is written by Amanda Eidelman and read by Leah Gerard. 7 00:00:47,580 --> 00:00:55,510 Speaker 1: Philippians chapter 3. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in 8 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,650 Speaker 1: the Lord. It is no trouble at all. for me 9 00:00:58,690 --> 00:01:01,330 Speaker 1: to write the same things to you again, and it 10 00:01:01,390 --> 00:01:05,070 Speaker 1: is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, 11 00:01:05,490 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is 12 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by 13 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,460 Speaker 1: His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put 14 00:01:17,580 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reasons 15 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,740 Speaker 1: for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons 16 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. circumcised 17 00:01:29,140 --> 00:01:31,649 Speaker 1: on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of 18 00:01:31,690 --> 00:01:35,649 Speaker 1: the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard 19 00:01:35,690 --> 00:01:40,230 Speaker 1: to the law of Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church, 20 00:01:40,750 --> 00:01:44,740 Speaker 1: as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever 21 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,780 Speaker 1: were gains to me, I now consider loss for the 22 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,260 Speaker 1: sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a 23 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:55,510 Speaker 1: loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus 24 00:01:55,570 --> 00:01:58,420 Speaker 1: my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 25 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:02,940 Speaker 1: I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and 26 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: be found in him, not having a righteousness of my 27 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,980 Speaker 1: own that comes from the law, but that which is 28 00:02:09,060 --> 00:02:12,580 Speaker 1: through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God 29 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:17,030 Speaker 1: on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ, yes, 30 00:02:17,070 --> 00:02:20,070 Speaker 1: to know the power of his resurrection and participation in 31 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:23,110 Speaker 1: his sufferings, become like him in his death, and so 32 00:02:23,490 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: somehow understand attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not 33 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: that I have already obtained all this or have already 34 00:02:30,780 --> 00:02:33,830 Speaker 1: arrived at my goal, but I press on to take 35 00:02:33,889 --> 00:02:36,549 Speaker 1: hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 36 00:02:37,889 --> 00:02:40,930 Speaker 1: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to 37 00:02:40,990 --> 00:02:43,930 Speaker 1: have taken hold of it, but one thing I do. 38 00:02:44,910 --> 00:02:48,700 Speaker 1: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 39 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,140 Speaker 1: I press on toward the goal to win the prize 40 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: for which God has called me heavenward All of us, then, 41 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,140 Speaker 1: who are mature, should take such a view of things. 42 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: And if on some point you think differently, that too 43 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,660 Speaker 1: God will make clear to you. Only let us live 44 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,610 Speaker 1: up to what we have already attained. Join together in 45 00:03:12,730 --> 00:03:16,230 Speaker 1: following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you 46 00:03:16,290 --> 00:03:18,690 Speaker 1: have us as a model, keep your eyes on those 47 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:21,630 Speaker 1: who live as we do. For as I have often 48 00:03:21,690 --> 00:03:25,020 Speaker 1: told you before, And now tell you again, even with tears, 49 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their 50 00:03:28,940 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: destiny is destruction, their God is their stomach, and their 51 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on 52 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven. And we 53 00:03:41,310 --> 00:03:44,410 Speaker 1: eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 54 00:03:44,850 --> 00:03:47,330 Speaker 1: who by the power that enables Him to bring everything 55 00:03:47,390 --> 00:03:51,430 Speaker 1: under His control will transform our lowly bodies so that 56 00:03:51,470 --> 00:03:59,580 Speaker 1: they will be like His glorious body. Maturity often looks 57 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:05,090 Speaker 1: like perseverance. Perseverance means keeping up a steady effort to 58 00:04:05,130 --> 00:04:08,190 Speaker 1: achieve a goal even when things get hard or take 59 00:04:08,230 --> 00:04:12,130 Speaker 1: a long time. As we grow, we learn how to 60 00:04:12,250 --> 00:04:17,070 Speaker 1: stick with things even when they get hard. As parents, 61 00:04:17,710 --> 00:04:20,419 Speaker 1: half the work we do is encouraging our kids when 62 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: they complain or get frustrated when the work isn't fun, 63 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: or when it's hard. The goal of parenthood is for 64 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,310 Speaker 1: our kids to eventually become people who can solve problems, 65 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:38,229 Speaker 1: stay focused, and remain reliable on their own. Paul is 66 00:04:38,270 --> 00:04:40,969 Speaker 1: speaking as a parent to the new Christians of the 67 00:04:41,029 --> 00:04:46,229 Speaker 1: city of Philippi. He encourages them in verses 13 through 15, 68 00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:49,229 Speaker 1: explaining that to do the work of the Lord, they 69 00:04:49,270 --> 00:04:53,260 Speaker 1: have to press toward the goal. They can't stop. They 70 00:04:53,300 --> 00:04:57,100 Speaker 1: have to keep moving forward. Paul goes on to say 71 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: that those who are mature take on this gritty, let's 72 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,860 Speaker 1: do this thing kind of attitude. Maybe you need the 73 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:11,380 Speaker 1: same pep talk. The going got tough. God hasn't answered 74 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,820 Speaker 1: your prayer as quickly or efficiently as you'd like. Or 75 00:05:16,350 --> 00:05:22,710 Speaker 1: you're just plain stuck. The Bible says, get focused. Don't 76 00:05:22,750 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: grow weary in doing good. Press forward toward the calling 77 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: God has placed on your life. Graciously, we don't have 78 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: to muster up the strength to get unstuck on our own. 79 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,390 Speaker 1: Through prayers of faith, God offers in Exodus 19.4 to 80 00:05:40,470 --> 00:05:44,050 Speaker 1: carry us on eagles' wings. He brings us to the 81 00:05:44,110 --> 00:05:48,330 Speaker 1: next season by His might and strength and through His grace. 82 00:05:49,670 --> 00:05:55,670 Speaker 1: All for His glory. Personally, I've faced many seasons in 83 00:05:55,710 --> 00:05:59,390 Speaker 1: which my soul felt weary. When I knew I was 84 00:05:59,470 --> 00:06:04,210 Speaker 1: out of answers, strength, or ideas, I needed a miracle. 85 00:06:05,529 --> 00:06:09,150 Speaker 1: Every time I've reached the end of myself, God showed 86 00:06:09,230 --> 00:06:13,790 Speaker 1: up for me. The time my panic disorder had finally 87 00:06:13,850 --> 00:06:16,940 Speaker 1: consumed my whole life, I cried out to the Lord 88 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:20,020 Speaker 1: for help, and He led me toward the support I needed. 89 00:06:21,529 --> 00:06:25,510 Speaker 1: When my marriage was unraveling, my heart cold and hurt, 90 00:06:26,310 --> 00:06:29,140 Speaker 1: I gave it all over to Him, asking His will 91 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: to be done. Miraculously, we started to take baby steps 92 00:06:33,980 --> 00:06:40,339 Speaker 1: toward healing and new, healthier habits. God provided these things 93 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: in abundance. The message of Philippians 3 is, Don't give up. 94 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:50,570 Speaker 1: Stay focused on the calling God has for you. And 95 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:55,430 Speaker 1: don't do it alone. God gave his life so you 96 00:06:55,470 --> 00:06:59,460 Speaker 1: could be his. He loves you and he won't leave 97 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: you to drown. He can carry you through to the 98 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: next season. Father, I ask that you would grow perseverance 99 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:14,170 Speaker 1: and maturity in me. Show me how to remain focused 100 00:07:14,650 --> 00:07:16,990 Speaker 1: on the goal and calling you have for my life. 101 00:07:18,430 --> 00:07:21,710 Speaker 1: By your strength alone, get me to the next season. 102 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: Carry me on your eagle's wings. Strengthen and encourage me 103 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: to do the work you have for me and let 104 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: it all be for your glory. You provide all I need. 105 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: I need you to get unstuck. Help me, Lord. Amen. 106 00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:47,810 Speaker 1: How did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts today. 107 00:07:48,170 --> 00:07:50,860 Speaker 1: in the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. 108 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:04,230 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 109 00:08:04,650 --> 00:08:09,470 Speaker 2: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. All 110 00:08:09,530 --> 00:08:15,390 Speaker 2: rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, your 111 00:08:15,450 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: daily Bible verse on Apple or Spotify. By following your 112 00:08:20,820 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 2: daily Bible verse and your nightly scripture, you can be 113 00:08:25,230 --> 00:08:29,470 Speaker 2: sure that your day begins and ends centered on the 114 00:08:29,510 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 2: Word of God. Thank you.