Read Philippians 2:16 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Discover
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul knew that holding firmly to God’s Word was a critical part of experiencing joy that wouldn’t waver. The phrase “hold firmly” is also translated as “hold fast.” In an ever-changing culture, it’s more critical than ever to not only believe what God’s Word says, but to hold to it, letting it shape our actions and attitudes. The Bible is the never changing, living, active, inspired Word of God. How can we resist temptation if we’re not immersed in it?
Holding fast to God’s Word means longing for it, being desperate for it and devoted to it. Many of us expect spiritual growth to just come to us. We’ve turned church into a product we consume. But that’s not how we grow. We grow by daily devoting ourselves to time in the Bible, encountering God, letting Him fill us and shape us to look more like Him. That’s our rebel’s guide to joy.
• Hold firmly to the Word. If you’ve struggled to devote daily time in God’s Word, take a minute now to block regular time in your calendar for it, perhaps setting your alarm 10-15 minutes earlier to start each day. If you regularly read the Bible but are merely consuming rather than encountering God and letting Him shape you, write down at least one way He spoke to you in your reading and put the note somewhere you’ll see it regularly. Be encouraged as you see the ways His Word and presence are coming alive to you.
Respond
Use your Philippians Guidebook to reflect and respond. For a digital copy of the guidebook, visit tpcc.org/rebels-guide.
Want to go deeper? Look up the following verses to see what was written in other New Testament books about God’s Word, including its work and power in our lives. Note what you observe and then continue with your time of response.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Hebrews 4:12