– Today’s Community Scripture – 9/19/2025
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. Even if I am executed here and now, I’ll rejoice in being an element in the offering of your faith that you make on Christ’s altar, a part of your rejoicing. But turnabout’s fair play—you must join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don’t feel sorry for me. I plan (according to Jesus’ plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy’s the real thing. He’s been a devoted son to me as together we’ve delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I’m hoping and praying to be right on his heels. But for right now, I’m dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I’m sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he’s been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others. So you can see why I’m so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you’ll rejoice and how relieved I’ll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren’t able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.
Philippians 2:12–30 (MSG)
– Reflection:
If we followed everything Paul asked of us, really followed it to the letter of what the Bible says, I genuinely believe we would be cheerful, we would not be arguing, and we would be free from second-guessing. I wonder if we could truly rejoice. I like that you trust GOD above anyone, not man or woman, just the Holy Trinity. With those three, I trust my life to them, and you should too. The things I have managed to overcome in the presence of the Holy Spirit are beyond what I believed possible. Not only personal challenges, but also the ability to help others, to have meaningful conversations. To cut grass, paint a wall, or fix a car. I initially thought these gifts were only for helping myself and my family, but I’m realizing they are meant for more than just me. I am grateful for everything I’ve received so far. Writing this blog and sharing the good I’ve been blessed with shows that you also have something inside you that others need. We are all a blessing to someone; we need to step into our gifts to discover them. Will you?
– Where do we go from here?
Let’s keep doing what’s right, just like we’ve been doing from the start. Even when no one is watching, we should keep living in a way that makes God proud. Let’s give our best effort, with energy and respect, knowing that God is working inside us to help us do what pleases Him. We should be kind, not argue, and stay positive. The world can be messy, but we can be like clean, fresh air—showing others what it looks like to live for God. Let’s carry His message with joy and be a light in dark places. And when we help others, we show real love. So let’s keep going strong, help each other, and live in a way that makes Jesus smile.
– Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for helping us live the way You want. Please give us Your strength and energy to keep doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Help us to be kind, cheerful, and full of love. Let us be a light in this world and show others what it means to follow You. Thank You for the people who help and care for others. Help us be more like them. We want to make You proud and share Your message with joy. Amen.
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. Even if I am executed here and now, I’ll rejoice in being an element in the offering of your faith that you make on Christ’s altar, a part of your rejoicing. But turnabout’s fair play—you must join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don’t feel sorry for me. I plan (according to Jesus’ plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy’s the real thing. He’s been a devoted son to me as together we’ve delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I’m hoping and praying to be right on his heels. But for right now, I’m dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I’m sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he’s been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others. So you can see why I’m so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you’ll rejoice and how relieved I’ll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren’t able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.
Philippians 2:12–30 (MSG)
– Reflection:
If we followed everything Paul asked of us, really followed it to the letter of what the Bible says, I genuinely believe we would be cheerful, we would not be arguing, and we would be free from second-guessing. I wonder if we could truly rejoice. I like that you trust GOD above anyone, not man or woman, just the Holy Trinity. With those three, I trust my life to them, and you should too. The things I have managed to overcome in the presence of the Holy Spirit are beyond what I believed possible. Not only personal challenges, but also the ability to help others, to have meaningful conversations. To cut grass, paint a wall, or fix a car. I initially thought these gifts were only for helping myself and my family, but I’m realizing they are meant for more than just me. I am grateful for everything I’ve received so far. Writing this blog and sharing the good I’ve been blessed with shows that you also have something inside you that others need. We are all a blessing to someone; we need to step into our gifts to discover them. Will you?
– Where do we go from here?
Let’s keep doing what’s right, just like we’ve been doing from the start. Even when no one is watching, we should keep living in a way that makes God proud. Let’s give our best effort, with energy and respect, knowing that God is working inside us to help us do what pleases Him. We should be kind, not argue, and stay positive. The world can be messy, but we can be like clean, fresh air—showing others what it looks like to live for God. Let’s carry His message with joy and be a light in dark places. And when we help others, we show real love. So let’s keep going strong, help each other, and live in a way that makes Jesus smile.
– Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for helping us live the way You want. Please give us Your strength and energy to keep doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Help us to be kind, cheerful, and full of love. Let us be a light in this world and show others what it means to follow You. Thank You for the people who help and care for others. Help us be more like them. We want to make You proud and share Your message with joy. Amen.