Observations:
I asked myself what stuck out to me in these verses?
What stuck out to me immediately is “being poured out like a drink offering”.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what could 'being poured out like a drink offering’ mean?
What came to my mind is maybe Paul was referring to his blood being spilled if it comes to that. Even if that happens he is glad and rejoices with all of them because of the sacrifice and service coming from their faith.

That is so amazing when we know that he is shackled in chains and yet is focused on other people to exhort them and encourage them to live out their faith for Christ. As they do that, for him it is worth it even if he dies in the process. Wow, what love for the Lord being exhibited in other people’s lives!

A lot of people were sad that Paul was a prisoner and could not continue his preaching directly and Paul knows that. Even in this situation he wants them to be glad and rejoice with him if they are living out their faith.

This is evidenced by v.16 where Paul asks them to shine out like stars in the universe as they hold the word of life. This is based extensively on the devotional called B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R

In the process, Paul can boast that his running, laboring and toiling for the Gospel was not in vain because he has seen changed lives. Now since lives are changed, he wants them to rejoice in that fact rather than be sorrowful that Paul could not be with them at that time.

I see Paul being so joyful amidst his circumstances and living out his faith where he is at and wanting the Philippians to do the same.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life here?
Reading about Paul and his joy made me see that I should actively live out my faith and be focused more on others than myself. Like Paul, I need to be more focused on JESUS first, OTHERS second, and YOURSELF (me) last. For me that is the path of true J.O.Y. I need Jesus' help to be thankful for the things around me that I do have instead of being sad about the things I don't have. It is amazing that the Book of Philippians is called the Book of Joy because Paul exhibits it with the help of Christ even through tough adversity. Thank you Jesus!

Regardless of who I talk to and who counsels me, the Lord Jesus reminds me that I can only truly be joyful, if I take my mind of myself and what makes me happy and focus that mind on Jesus and others, not really thinking about myself.  For that too, I need faith as Paul had. I need Jesus' help and am so thankful to Jesus that when I ask of Him, He will give that faith to me.

As I fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, I know He will help me.

I ASK YOU NOW:
I ask you now dear friends, when do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?
Dear friends, it is so easy to live out our faith when things are going so well in our lives and we are getting all we wished for and dreamed for. But, that's not how life is. 

As the world is facing the Coronavirus pandemic and it is also close to home, what will our response be?

How will we show our faith in the Lord Jesus in this situation of uncertainity?

Will we be selfish and do our own things or will we think about others in the decisions we make even if it is uncomfortable and a hardship?

Are we hoarding on stuff without thinking about our neighbor because of this virus or do we put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last: J.O.Y?

I love working and reaching out to customers in a Chinese grocery store especially now during this time making conversations with them, etc. The main reason is when I read stories from my Chinese friends about how they have been treated because of this virus, it is that much more important for me that every Chinese person or anyone who comes to the Chinese grocery store know that they are loved and it displays through my faith. More than that I want them to know the love of Christ. I believe those who are called to do fulltime ministry should be on the frontlines in faith sharing the love of Christ to the wounded, fallen, and broken depending on the Lord in faith being wise, cautious, and prudent. My precious wife Chandraleela and I are pursuing fulltime writing ministry with Pittsburgh Standard as we try to raise fulltime support. It has not been easy at all but we are trusting in the Lord believing 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen!'

We are so confident that if this is the path the Lord Jesus wants us to go, He will make provision for us. Thank you Jesus.

Even as we think about the virus and pray against the virus we know, Jesus allows difficult situations in our lives not because He likes us to suffer. Oh no, on the contrary, Jesus weeps when we weep and is sad when we suffer. Yet, in a fallen world, we do face things that bring us sadness and it varies among people. What makes one person sad may not even affect another person but the bottom line is living out our faith should not be based on how good things are going for us. We wish things were different for us in different areas but we know Jesus is in control and if it is this way Jesus allows things to be, that's how they will be and He will give us the strength and willingness to move on in joy. If he wants to change circumstances, He can! Thank you Jesus!  It starts with us focusing on Jesus to help us through the trials, sorrows, and disappointments.

Friend, Jesus will help you too to bear things you are going through just as Jesus gave Paul the strength to face. To live out our faith, what we need to avoid the most is the greatest sin of pride.

I want to live out my faith in Jesus, especially in times of difficulty, knowing deep inside my true joy can only come from Him and not what I focus on. The Apostle Paul understood that. Help me Jesus!

Yet, friend all the talk about you or I living out our faith cannot be possible if we do not have faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary and what He will continue to do for us. Jesus loves us so much that no matter what we are going through or facing, He can give us the strength and endurance to bear it and the joy that comes from knowing Him and His ways for our lives.

To live out our faith, we need to acknowledge our own sinfulness before an all awesome Holy God and confess them before Him, taking the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness for that is what Jesus did on the cross for your sake and mine. We are bought by His blood for His purposes. When we rest in Him, He will give us His joy! Praise the Lord!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life!" (John 3:16)

To live out our faith, we need the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God to instruct us, comfort us, and exhort us to walk in His ways for His honor and glory. This will happen as Jesus provides the right community in our lives to supplement our own prayer and Quiet Times with Him, for answers in the Heaven!

If our faith is lived out only among our  friends and that is the service of our faith, it is not anything great. I am reminded of Jesus telling the crowds that loving people who love us back is not anything great for even the heathen do that but loving those who do not love us back is commendable.

Living out our faith among those we do not agree with is more commendable because many may not see things eye to eye with us and this could cause conflict. When that happens if we continue to ignore our own conscience and go along with what they want rather than holding on to the principles of living out our faith from God's Word, we have hurt the Lord in the process.

When you live out your faith, you will be setting a powerful example that living out your faith for Jesus is more important than on the values the world places. It is important to remember you could lose friends if you decide to follow the Holy Spirit but sometimes that happens. I know of families where sons and daughters are thrown out of the house because they decided to believe in Jesus. It is painful for them but exercising their faith in Jesus became important.

I am so touched when a husband and wife are married and the husband continues to come to church faithfully even when the wife does not want to go because that husband is modeling to his wife the importance of putting God first and not foraking the fellowship of believers. The husband could have easily rationalized thinking to himself but I am loving my wife by staying at home with her.  But through my years of ministry, I have learned that a husband or wife who lives out their faith without compromise are more likely to lead their spouse to Christ than when they compromise. Thank you Jesus. The power of God's Word is so amazing because the promises do come true.

"Seek His Kingdom first and all these things shall be added unto you!" (Matthew 6:33, TLB)

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart!" (Psalm 37:4, TLB)

"Commit yourself to the Lord and it will succeed!" (Prov 16:3, TLB)

Now is not the time to compromise in the issues of faith! I don’t know if you were ever faced with a situation as a  friend from years ago was faced with. She was dating and sleeping with her boyfriend for sometime. One day she became a Christian and knew what she was doing was wrong. She also knew that being yoked with an unbeliever would not work out in the long run. Plus, she wanted to marry someone who is also a Christian and start over. Her boyfriend did not want to have anything to do with Christ. My friend with pain and tears broke of her relationship with her boyfriend for the sake of her love for Jesus Christ. She would even tell me that she seemed to be happy when she was with him than now but she has the joy of the Lord inside compared to then. She made a sacrifice to live out her faith and knew it would be worth it in the long run.

Friend, it is never easy to serve the Lord Jesus. Look at Paul, it was not easy for him and yet he stood his ground because He knew Jesus Christ is worth the pain that he was going through. He believed in Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of His life too and that one day every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. He decided to live for the Lord.

Won’t you friend?
As you seek to know the Lord more and more, He will permeate your heart with His awesome love and joy. You will experience His presence and fellowship more and more as you yield to Him and let Him be in control of your life without holding anything back!

No matter where you are placed, may you make a sacrifice if it comes to that to live out your faith for the Lord as you put Him first place in your life! May you know how much Jesus will help you from Heaven to point you in the right direction!

May you always remember you can live out your faith because for answers in the Heaven!

"Faith Acknowledges Inspirational Trusting Hope!" (F.A.I.T.H)/"When do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?"

PRAYER: 
Jesus, thank you for the impact that you have made in Paul’s life! Jesus, thank you for loving us and dying for our sin! Thank you for coming back to life to save us and being our all and all! You are our Redeemer holding us in your arms of love. You can make an impact in our lives too. We need your help. You know the struggles we face Lord and the peer pressure of this world that makes it difficult to live out our faith for you. We cannot on our own and need your help. It can be hard to sacrifice things to totally serve you. We cannot on our own whether it be in relationships, academics, careers, etc without your indwelling presence and supernatural help. So, Lord please come and help your children that we may serve you faithfully. We desire to live out our faith for you and need your help so we can be more focused on you, focused on others, and ourselves last especially in this time of the Coronavirus. Thank you for the joy that comes from knowing you. I pray this joy won’t be counterfeit but real. Thank you for the impact you have made in our own lives when we give ourselves to you! Thank you Lord you will come and help.  We need your help so much. Thank you Lord for all that you are to us. In your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Part of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)