Poured Out in Sacrifice

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
 
Philippians 2:14-18 (The Message)
 ^14-16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.
 ^17-18Even if I am executed here and now, I'll rejoice in being an element in the offering of your faith that you make on Christ's altar, a part of your rejoicing. But turnabout's fair play—you must join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don't feel sorry for me.

For Reflection
Perception is everything.  No! Everything is not rosy. But, is a cynical and gloomy view of the world any more realistic that a balanced one?  Living in Christ gives one freedom to see the reality of life fearlessly in balanced proportion.  Everyone has a bias.  Make your bias God centered.

Pray, rejoicing in the Lord.  Break the bounds of a worldly view.  Pray to see the world through God's eyes.  Pray to avoid the corruption of the tyranny of our culture.  Carry on fearlessly into the night.