Life is very dynamic and full of change. Sometimes that change directly impacts me, and sometimes it does not. Sometimes what is happening is pleasant. While at other times, I might feel threatened or apprehensive about the change. And there are certainly times when the change causes me pain and grief. While I have some control over my circumstances, that control is limited. Much of what impacts me on a daily basis is completely outside my control. But the one thing I can count on is that stuff will happen. It’s just a part of being alive.
But what I can control is how I respond to what is happening to me. One way to respond is to allow the circumstances to control my feelings and actions. When that happens, and things are good, I respond in a positive fashion and have good feelings. But when the circumstances are less favorable, I can react in a negative fashion and be discouraged. One day I might be up. And the next day, be down in the dumps.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 1:27 NIV
Paul provides an alternative to that here. He tells me that whatever happens, whether good or bad, to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. No matter what the outward circumstances are, I am a child of God and know that he will use whatever happens to me for my good. So, rather than allow outward circumstances to control my response, I need to fix my eyes on the eternal and live in a way that would bring honor to my Lord. There is nothing that will happen to me in this life that is worth comparing to what lies ahead.
