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Devotion for Week of April 13, 2025

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A Committed Following

Read: Philippians 3:15-18

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“Join together in following my example.”

Philippians 3:17a., NIV

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I once heard a story about “a farmer that grabbed his shotgun to shoot at a flock of pesky crows. These crows kept bothering the other wildlife on the farm. They were always eating his corn crop and a real nuisance. Unfortunately, after he shot, he didn’t see his sociable pet parrot that had joined the crows. After firing a few shots, he walked over to the fallen birds and was surprised to find his badly ruffled parrot with a broken wing. To make matters worse his kids also saw. They asked, ‘Dad, what happened?’ The farmer simply replied, ‘Bad company I guess.’” 1

Despite what people may think, we are affected by the people we are around. So, it takes wisdom to choose who we invest our time around We choose wisely because we want to grow and walk in faith.

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Big Idea: We Should Live in Proper Ways-Like Christians Before Us.

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In previous devotions, we’ve seen Paul talk about many things like dying to our old ways and placing no confidence in the flesh, and even the previous devotion which focused on a believer striving for maturity. However, he seems to paint the picture of following other Christians before us faith in verse 17, when he says, “Join together in following my example…and just as you have us model.” (NIV)

Meaning, that we should conduct ourselves by living the good examples that God puts us in the path of. Now, for clarification he isn’t saying that we will be around bad or less than ideal examples but that we purposely follow the lead of the effective ones.

He further reinforces that idea in the second part of verse 17 when he says: “keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” (NIV). So, it shows an intentionality in observing the correct examples of people who were living correctly.

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Insight: We Should Live in Proper Ways Like Those Before Us – By Being Selective Decisive, Emulating their Lives.

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Regardless of what we may think we are influenced by the people we spend most of our time around. We can begin to act and talk like them without even realizing it. So, it makes sense to choose and act on those good examples.

In fact, I used to hear a person say it like this: “Stick with the winners.” To be honest I used to hear that and think it sounded prideful. However, I have come to see that as a wise statement that means we should be selective in who we choose to be around.

As we go through our day and week, let’s strive to hold ourselves to the proper standard, see others’ lives, and act correctly.

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Challenge: Are we being prideful and selective for the right reasons or the wrong ones? Are we following the good examples before us? Are we acting on what we see?

Pray: Asking God to help me be honest with myself and grow in my walk with Him…

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Going Deeper:

Who are the people we should follow in life? Commenting on verses 15-19 In the Grace and Truth Study Bible, show how we can live the Christian Life:

“We grow by watching and imitating good examples. Paul shows Christians how to face suffering by explaining his own reaction to chains, rivals, and the prospect of execution (1:12–26). He urges them to prefer others’ needs to their own by invoking the selfless servanthood of Christ, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and himself (1:27—2:30). He protects them from legalism by narrating his own conversion from confidence in the flesh to delight in the righteousness and worth of Christ (3:2–11). Now he calls them to imitate his relentless pursuit of Christlike maturity. Paul points them to the example of those who share his mindset and his life, meaning his pattern of behavior.” 2

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Devotion written by Pastor Frank & Samuel Gervasi

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1. An illustration accessed by PFG, sermon, as accessed on 4/07/2025.

4. Music Intro/Outro, Praise Adonai, Integrity Music, Paul Baloche, 2009.