25 Oct November 30th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE

Philippians 1:1-2 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you realize Paul’s greeting to the folks at Phillipi could just as easily be one addressed to you and all who are fellow Christians in your congregation?  Sometimes you forget that you are also part of those he addresses as “God’s holy people.”  Imagine that!  You are God’s holy person!

You may not think of yourself as holy.  You see what your mirror reflects back to you each morning in the bathroom.  You see your warts and moles.  Through the mirror of God’s Law, you recognize the sins you commit.  You know it is true that you sin daily and fall far short of what God demands of you.  (See Romans 3:23) You find it hard to think of yourself as a holy person.

The latter portion of today’s devotional verse explains why St. Paul addresses you as a holy person.  “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” You are holy because God loves you unconditionally.  Out of that love He sent His one and only Son Jesus to earth to earn and win for you, His forgiveness.  Through Jesus, He has adopted you as His very own child.  “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

You are at peace with God by His grace through the faith He has given you in His Son Jesus.  Jesus says to you, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

You have grace and peace from God your Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is what makes you a holy person in God’s sight.

Prayer:  Grant me, heavenly Father, daily Your underserved love and through it peace with You for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness

My beauty are, my glorious dress;

Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,

With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in that great day,

Cleansed and redeemed, no debt to pay;

Fully absolved through these I am

From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,

Which at the mercy seat of God

Pleads for the captives’ liberty,

Was also shed in love for me.

Lord, I believe, were sinners more

Than sands upon the ocean shore,

Thou hast for all a ransom paid,

For all a full atonement made.

When from the dust of death I rise

To claim my mansion in the skies,

This then shall be my only pleas:

Jesus hath lived and died for me.

Jesus, be endless praise to Thee,

Whose boundless mercy hath for me,

For me, and all Thy hands have made,

An everlasting ransom paid.

(LSB 563)