Hello Advent Family,

Do you ever think about who you represent with your life?  We represent our family, our employer, maybe we represent a team whose jersey we wear.  The Bible speaks a lot about how we represent Jesus.  The opinion others have about Jesus will often come from how they view us.  Let’s look at Philippians 1 together today.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

We are reminded to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel, but what does that really mean?  We should be people of grace and forgiveness because that is at the heart of the gospel.  We should be people of love because Love is central to the gospel.  We should be people of obedience because Jesus modeled that for us in His journey to the cross.  We should be people of gratitude because of the gift of the gospel.  Most of all we should remember who it is we represent.  We are the only “Jesus” that the world will see.  May we represent Him well through the grace and strength of God.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave