NIV, Women's Devotional Bible

theme of Christian joy. Paul is joyful as he thinks of the Christians in Philippi. He rejoices that even his imprisonment advances the gospel.

Starting with the sinfulness of humans and the wrath of God against sin, he moves on to tell of God’s grace in salvation, which comes to us through God-given faith and not our works.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (

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 (

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (

Paul wrote this letter to a young church set in the heart of a pagan society. Ephesus was a thriving commercial center, but in order for the church to thrive, its members needed to know how to live, how to stand apart as different and yet still be able to influence their society.

Corinth was a wealthy and prosperous center of commerce and trade when Paul wrote this letter. Morally, however, it was bankrupt. The term Corinthian came to be synonymous with immorality. And there, in the center of this immoral society, was a young Christian church struggling to survive.

As illustrated by Solomon and a few other kings, it is possible to start life dedicated to God and end it distracted by false gods and wrong priorities. Even the kings of God’s own people were not immune to the lure of self-centered desires and false gods.

This book gives wonderful advice on putting perspective on life’s bumps and bruises. The Christian life brings suffering, pain and even persecution. Yet the believer never suffers alone. The presence of Christ Jesus brings joy even in the midst of suffering. Read Philippians to see some of the many ways God shows himself faithful in hard times.