Read Philippians Chapter 2

Paul urges the Philippian church to be united, not only with Christ, but also with one another, saying,

2 make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Phi. 2:2, NIV).

Hear these words of the Spirit, because some people, even in the church, do not desire this unity. We can make every effort to be one with them, but if they continue their contentious ways, we cannot let them get us down, not letting their criticisms get the best of us, but moving on with the people who do hunger for oneness. Far more in the church, seek unity with us, than seek division. Ignore the contentious; embrace the unifiers.

by Don Ruhl

Read Philippians Chapter 1

Many Christians imply by the way that they live, that God can save us from sin and save us to heaven in the end, but in between, we are on our own. Saving us from sin and hell are magnificent works, but can our Lord do more than that? Yes, He can and does. Listen to Paul's confidence and may each of us have the same confidence daily,

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phi. 1:6, NIV).

He saves us from sin, but then leaves us hanging, not providing what we need to be complete men and women of God? No way, but He continues to carry us all the way through all of our experiences in life. Therefore, place your faith firmly in Him and remember that as you go through this day, He is working to complete you as a man or woman. Try to figure out what He is doing to make you complete.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 23-25

After delivering prophecies of how God will deal with various nations and with the earth, Isaiah contemplates the works of God, then praises Him for what He does.

      O LORD, You are my God.
      I will exalt You, 
      I will praise Your name, 
      For You have done wonderful things;
      Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
      (Isa. 25:1, NKJV).

Read stories in the Bible, or look over the story of your life, and see that God does things in a wonderful way. His timing is always perfect, although now we may not think so. He is always vindicated. When you see this happen, take the time to praise Him.

by Don Ruhl

Read Ephesians 5:17-33

Ephesians 5:21 is brief, but presents the solution to many church conflicts,

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21, NIV).

This is the spirit of submission, which is the spirit of cooperation. It does not take many members in a congregation to lack this spirit, before there is frustration, especially in the leadership. Yet, we cannot submit to God without submitting to one another. He who fails to submit to his fellow-disciples has no reverence for Jesus Christ.

It is imperative, therefore, that I examine my life and heart in this matter. Do I have a submissive spirit to the rest of the congregation where I worship?

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 17-19

There is a wrestler and actor who calls himself, The Rock. Oh, really? Now, this guy may be good at wrestling (I am sure that he can whoop me) and he may be a good actor (Hollywood uses him and not you and me), but The Rock. However, his name overstates who he is. Let me show you what I mean. Listen to the consequences of forgetting the true Rock, and let me ask if there are the same consequences, or any consequence, for forgetting a man known as The Rock.

10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow. (Isa. 17:10, 11, NKJV).

There are serious repercussions for not remembering the true Rock, but there are none for failing to remember a man. The Rock is perhaps a show name. Let us (and him) remember that is all it is. Extend this thinking to everything, for there is nothing and no one who has absolute power over us, but the great God of heaven, who is the true Rock.