Introduction: Mothers are special! God made them with multiple abilities. We are told women have more nerve endings than men. {That’s why my wife says I’m getting on her nerves!!} But on another note, Solomon writes about a godly woman {You might wonder if she ever sleeps?}.

1. She’s a compliment! (Prov 31:10-12) – “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” 

2. She’s constructive! (Prov 31:13-17) – “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”

3. She’s consecrated! (Prov 31:28-30) – “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Conclusion: What a woman with balance! Her priorities are fixed. Her mission is clear. Her influence is powerful!!

No wonder she’s called a priceless jewel in the hand of the Lord.

Today’s devotion will share spiritual insights and disciplines that should move every believer toward being more dependable.

Get the picture. Paul is in prison. Why? Because he had been preaching and teaching the Word of God. He took the known world during his day by storm, refuting false teaching but at the same time proclaiming biblical truth. It literally shook up towns, cities, and provinces for the glory of the Lord! People were being saved, churches were being built, and the gospel was spreading like wildfire! Of course, persecution followed as well.

Meanwhile, one of the assembly of believers located in the area of Philippi were directly involved in this great movement of God. So while being incarcerated and awaiting martyrdom, Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write a letter that is included in the canon of Scripture to a specific Church called Philippians. There were two GIANT-KILLERS and FAITHFUL SERVANTS who were recommended by the flaming evangelist Paul and used by the Lord in a mighty way.

Who were these “TRUSTWORTHY” soldiers of the cross?
Timothy and Epaphroditus were their names.

(Philippians 2:19–25) – “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state… Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.”

(Philippians 2:17) – “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”

Apparently, the believers in this special Church had been spiritual partners with the aged, old soldier Paul—ministering to his needs while faithfully serving Jesus Christ.

Are you faithfully serving Jesus Christ?
What changes do you need to ask God to make in your life?
Rearrangement of priorities? Crucify the flesh?

(Philippians 2:29) – “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation.”

Interestingly enough, the word “reputation” is ἔντιμος (pronounced en’-tee-mos). It means honorable or precious. Furthermore, it has to do with holding in high esteem.

How about it?
Do you want to be TRUSTWORTHY?
Would you like for our great God to be able to DEPEND on you?

Let’s face it—we can certainly DEPEND on Him!
Shouldn’t He be able to DEPEND on us?

Serving Him by serving His Church is His divinely orchestrated method. Ultimately, every follower of Jesus Christ should be ready to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of SERVING. This devotion will focus on SERVING with PURPOSE.

1. Greatness is found in Servanthood! (Matthew 20:26–28) – “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

2. Purpose is discovered in Serving others! (Philippians 2:1–4) – “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

3. Unity in Serving! (Ephesians 4:1–3) – “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Did you see the word “love”? That is the key. Humility, charity, and unity are the key ingredients in serving. Are you lacking any?

Conclusion: Once we discover our PURPOSE through SERVING, then we become a useful tool in the MASTER POTTER’S hand. His hand then forms and shapes us into a worthy vessel meet for His use. All for His glory!

Introduction: Is leadership an innate ability? Is a person born that way? Or does it require development? If we take examples in the Bible, it appears the GREATEST Leader of all, JESUS CHRIST, developed those He chose, even though Judas FAILED the test. Consider these perspectives:

1. Where have you been in 1st FOLLOWING Jesus? (Matt 4:18-22) – “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”

These were men who both saw and trusted JESUS to lead them. Are you willing to TRUST Jesus to lead you? You’ve trusted Him to forgive you, haven’t you? Now take it another step and let Him guide you. But how can we do that?

2. Where are you at right now in FOLLOWING Jesus? (Heb 12:5-11) – “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Are you willing to be CORRECTED by His WORD? His Spirit? Through others in authority? This is the difficult part because of our independence. But in order to have “SPIRITUAL” influence, we must be willing to be trained and corrected by our Lord.

3. Where are you going in FOLLOWING Jesus? (John 21:21-23) – “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

Peter, like us, was more concerned about what was going on with John than FOLLOWING Jesus. This is a GREAT lesson for us. Why? Because we look around and wonder about people instead of FOLLOWING Jesus.

But on the other hand, are there some things that you need to “Hold on” to? Hold on to your faith in Jesus! Hold on to the promises of God! Hold on to your eternal security! Hold on to Hope in the Lord! Hold on to the Goodness of God!

1. Let Go of Murmuring and Complaining! (Phil 2:14) – “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”

The word “murmurings” is γογγυσμός (pronounced gong-goos-MOS). Technically speaking, it means grumbling or complaining. With all the troubles and trials that are coming against us daily, do you find yourself “pouting” instead of “shouting”? Are you going to “chose to lose”? Or, are you going to “make a choice to rejoice”?

2. Hold on to your Bible! (Phil 2:16) – “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

And next, perhaps you have wanted someone to be saved, or get in Church, and have gone “overboard” or “overkill”, and inadvertently become critical. Pray for wisdom and compassion instead of being critical or judgmental.

Keep letting Him have His way with you. Let Him work in—then work out what He works in—all for His glory.