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“Christ’s Help Offers Inspiring Choices Encouraging Saints! (C.H.O.I.C.E.S)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
“If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:22-24, NIV)

Approach Question:
What do you base your choices on?

Observations:
I asked myself what choices was Paul faced with?
1. Living in the body.
2. Departing from the body.

I asked myself what were the advantages of both choices?
1. Living in the body-
a. This will mean fruitful labor for me.
b. More necessary for you that I remain in the body.

2. Departing from the body-
a. This will mean being with Christ.
b. This will be better by far than staying imprisoned and chained.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Paul weighing the choices?
Even though Paul saw that departing from the body will allow him to be with Christ, he was thinking more about others than himself. That is really amazing that even in chains and imprisoned his mind was on others than himself. This is evidenced by his response:

“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” (Philippians 1:25-26)

I asked myself what ‘this’ meant in ‘convinced of this’ and realized ‘this’ is referring to ‘living in the body meaning fruitful labor for me and more necessary for you’.

I asked myself what choice does Paul make?
So now Paul knows what his choice is going to be which is evidenced by these statements:
1. I know that I will remain.
2. I will continue with all of you for your progress in the faith.
3. I will continue with all of you for your joy in the faith.

I asked myself why?
 “So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account on me.”

Application:
I saw important implications for my own life as I studied God's Word. The purpose of today's devotional is to realize the importance of making choices that will benefit others more than me. Paul applied this principle when he decided that 'Living in the body' will mean fruitful labor for him that will benefit others for their own growth. I too should make choices that will benefit others more than me as I focus on Christ and Christ alone. This is what Paul did. Paul's entire focus was on Christ and the opportunities to use his time here on earth for Christ. I learned this is not always easy when I am faced with choices that I feel will give me the most happiness in the long run but it makes no sense for me to go after those choices if Christ is not in the center of those choices.

I ASK YOU:
I ask you now dear friends, what are your choices based on?
Dear friends, the choices we make should be based on what will glorify Christ the most whether it be in academia, relationships, career, etc and be others focused than self-focused. The key in all this is seeking after God’s will for our lives in every aspect of our lives whatever area it is in.

Whatever choices you are faced with, my hope and prayer is that those choices will be made with Christ being in the center of your life and the focus of your life. Surrendering your choices in life to Christ does not mean automatically you will be sent to the remotest places in the world. A lot of people fear that giving every area of their life to Christ would mean misery because they cannot get what they want.

What I have learned is that in the long run it is not worth going our own way if Christ wants us to go in another direction even if it means giving up what we have always done. I have also learned that whatever God’s will for us is that it will work out for our good even if we do not understand it now. Even in suffering we can have the joy of the Lord as Paul experienced.

Paul's focus was on Christ because he knew Christ alone is the Hope of Glory and in Him alone can Jew and Gentile find Salvation because of what Jesus did. I praise the Lord for that. Jesus went to the cross to save humanity by ransoming us by His precious blood so our sins can be washed away and we can be set free. Wow! The Creator of the Universe became the ultimate sacrifice for you and me based on the choice of love. Because God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ into this world to save us while we were still sinners. This is amazing to know the choice Jesus made for a fallen humanity. I thank you Lord!

May we seek Christ now and always in all the choices we are faced with and may those choices be based on what brings the ultimate glory to Christ! Amen!

"Christ’s Help Offers Inspiring Choices Encouraging Saints! (C.H.O.I.C.E.S)"/"What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based on?"

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that your help offers inspiring choices encouraging saints. Help us to believe that always, for in the Spirit it is easy to believe that but in our flesh the choices you have for us will not seem inspiring to us. So please help us Lord that whatever choices you have for us we can be encouraged. I am so grateful for the things you have done in my life. I pray Lord that there will be no other place we want to be than in your arms of love. Only your arms of love can hold me still and hold me near whatever choices I am faced with. Thank you for being my Savior. You know the choices we all are faced with. We do want you in the center of those choices so please help us Lord. Thank you so much Jesus that you will help us and you have called us your very own. Help us to completely surrender our lives to you, all that we are and do. Whatever your will is for us, please give us the willingness and strength to bear it. Help us to walk in faith seeking you Lord as we confess our sins, repent of our sins, and yield our lives to you acknowledging what you have done for us at Calvary. Thank you Jesus for the Ultimate Choice you made for us. Please be our Lord and Personal Savior coming into our heart and making our heart your home. Thank you Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turniLOVINGg them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2011 DEVOTIONALS:

Mark 5:24b-29: "Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M to move on?" (July 04, 2011, 10:15 a.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:21: "Why D.I.E for Christ?" (July 02, 2011, 10:06 a.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:21: "Why L.I.V.E your life to be appreciated by others?" (July 01, 2011, 10:35 a.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:20: "Where do you need to have C.O.U.R.A.G.E in life?" (June 17, 2011, 3:59 p.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:19: "Who do you often C.A.L.L in life?" (June 16, 2011, 6:54 p.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:19: "What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" (June 15, 11, 6:24 p.m.( IST) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:15-18: "How are your M.O.T.I.V.E.S in life?" (June 08, 11, 6:45 a.m.( IST) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:12-14: "What have the C.H.A.I.N.S done to you in your own life?" (June 02, 11, 7:41 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:12: "How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?" (June 01, 11, 9:26 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response be based on?" (May 31, 11, 9:01 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:24: "Why should M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day not be limited to a Picnic/BBQ Holiday?" (May 30, 11, 7:47 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:8: "Why cannot you be in a loving R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P in life?" (May 28, 11, 12:34 aPm.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:7: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" (May 27, 11, 9:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?" (May 26, 11, 1:03 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" (May 25, 11, 10:15 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" (May 24, 11, 10:50 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1-2: "What do you do to B.L.E.S.S others in life?" (May 20, 11, 9:18 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" (May 19, 11, 10:42 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of being a sinner?" (May 18, 11, 8:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life? (May 17, 11, 7:21 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 2:8: "Why bother with the C.R.O.S.S. when you are living in the 21st century?" (April 23, 11, 1:32 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

2010 DEVOTIONALS:

John 12: "Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?" (Mon, March 29, 10, 10:09 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:3: "What costly S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E will you make for Jesus remembering His stinky/dirty feet?" (Sat, March 27, 10, 11:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Proverbs 23: "What  has  A.L.C.O.H.O.L done to you in life?" (March 20, 10, 9:17 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" (March 13, 10, 11:40 p.m.)

Mark 10:13: "Why S.H.A.R.E Jesus with others in life?" (March 09, 10, 4:59 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13: "Why B.R.I.N.G Doggy Poo to Jesus?" (March 08, 10, 9:01 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?" (Feb 24, 10, 9:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

1 Corinthians 13: "How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 Mark 9: "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy