Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

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  • Summary

  • Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.
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Episodes
  • September 3rd - Philippians 1:21–24

    September 3rd - Philippians 1:21–24
    Sep 3 2024
    Philippians 1:21–24 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. During the two years that I lived in India a number of people in our community died and I deeply appreciated the way in which their deaths were handled. Soon after the person passed away their body was prepared and laid out on a bed in the middle of the main room of the house. Visitors would then come and pay their respects, light candles around the body, and say prayers. This would continue until the body was taken in an open coffin to church for the funeral service (normally the day after the death). It was all so very different from the way in which our society handles death. When I returned to this country I deeply regretted the way in which we seem to be kept well away from death. In our verses today Paul talks about death in a way that would probably shock many people. He is totally open about death and reflects on the varied benefits of being alive or dead. Paul’s confidence in Christ shines through his words. He knows the Lord so well that he is absolutely convinced that death is the preferable option. For Paul, death was bound to be much better than life, because he would be set free from all those things that obstruct our relationship with Christ here on earth. But he realises that, for the moment, he has responsibilities here on earth and so he is content with staying alive for the time being. One of the greatest blessings of being a Christian is that we need have no fear of death. Recently a friend of mine, aged 63, died of motor neurone disease. The disease progressed very fast and it was alarming to see how speedily he lost all muscle control. But through it all he kept rejoicing. His confidence in God was so strong that on not a single occasion did I hear him complain. He knew that he was secure in God’s hands for time and eternity. I do hope you look to the future with a similar confidence. Question Do you share Paul’s thoughts about death? Prayer Lord God, thank you that my relationship with you will not be brought to an end by death. Amen
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    4 mins
  • September 2nd - Philippians 1:15 and 18

    September 2nd - Philippians 1:15 and 18
    Sep 2 2024
    Philippians 1:15 and 18 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives…Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. From time to time we probably all think how nice it would be to live in a perfect world where everyone agreed with everyone else. We could then get on with living our Christian lives with the confidence that what other people said was a mirror image of our own thoughts. But the reality is people disagree on almost every subject and Christian faith attracts the complete spectrum of reactions. There are people who love every word we speak, and others who hate it with a passion. And, as Paul observed, people speak in a whole variety of ways. Some are loving and gracious, others are bitter and divisive. It’s all very confusing, but Paul drew a strong and interesting conclusion. Amid all the confusion he recognised that what really matters is that the name of Jesus is being preached. Of course, I am sure he would have preferred everyone to speak of Christ in the same way as he did, but recognised that in the real world we have to get on with the confusions that come with it. In a few months’ time we will be celebrating Christmas and I am really grateful that our very secular country still stops for Christmas and pays so much attention to it. My reasons are exactly the same as Paul’s. I fully recognise that many people will just see it as a holiday, or a season to make a lot of money. But I love the fact that in our post-Christian and materialistic society we are given the opportunity to promote the fact of Jesus’ birth. More than three times as many people attend church over the Christmas period when compared with the rest of the year, and millions more will sing carols that clearly affirm the good news. I think we ought to stand with the apostle Paul and rejoice. Question How do you react when people speak about Jesus in a way that you dislike? Prayer Loving Father, help me to do everything I can to help people hear about Jesus. Amen
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    3 mins
  • September 1st - Philippians 1:12–13

    September 1st - Philippians 1:12–13
    Sep 1 2024
    Philippians 1:12–13And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that 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.My chief memory of prison visits is the huge bunches of keys and the slamming of doors and I am sure that would have been just the same in Paul’s day. The lack of liberty must be terrible, and we have every reason to think that Paul’s years of incarceration would have been a degrading experience. But Paul has no time for moaning! He reflects that his time in prison has actually enabled the good news ofJesus to be spread.Paul’s various times in prison must have been desperately hard to bear, but he consistently focused on the fact that God had brought blessing through these times.This reminds me of Joseph’s experience in the Old Testament. His brothers hated him so much that they intended to murder him, but they eventually decided to sell him to some passing traders. Joseph was taken to Egypt where his ability to interpret dreams finally led him to become one of the leaders of the land during a time of famine. In one of the most dramatic moments of the Bible, Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt in search of food and the official that they met was none other than Joseph himself. He summed up what had happened by saying this: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so that I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph wasn’t saying that what they had done was acceptable. They had clearly acted in a terrible way. But their actions hadn’t stood in the way of God’s purposes.We all face tragedies, illnesses and setbacks in life. But as we trust ourselves to God he is able to keep working miraculously in us as we commit ourselves to him. Question Can you think of a bad experience in your life that God turned into something good? Prayer Dear Father, thank you that you are at work in my life even when times are hard. Amen
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    3 mins
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Every morning!

Jonathan Edwards is a beacon of Light! I find his message to be true and Scriptural.
I love to hear each morning’s devotion as I begin my day with Jesus!

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