
In contemporary culture, gentleness is often considered a feminine trait or even a sign of weakness. Learn why it’s actually a form of strength that’s essential for spiritual growth. Study along with us on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon

Mixed Motives
In his missionary letter to the Philippian church, Paul gets real. Though he shares encouraging news, the picture is not all rosy. The motivations some people had for sharing the gospel were downright bad—they were driven not by good will so much as by rivalry and a desire to stir up trouble for the apostle.
The wrong motives of other people didn’t become the determining element in Paul’s attitude, however. Their selfishly motivated preaching did not keep him awake at night or mar his commitment to seeing the kingdom advance. He passionately wanted the true gospel to be preached, so he wasn’t primarily concerned about the reasons others had for preaching, as long as they were still preaching Christ. His concern was for the Lord’s glory, not for his own stature or even for his safety.
Perhaps we find ourselves relating to Paul, surrounded by those who share their faith out of false motives. But if we allow these failings to determine our own attitude or actions, it will cripple us. We will spend too much of our time and energy either constantly questioning the intentions of others or continually refuting and rebutting what they’re doing. That would be to give the devil a great gain, in that we would then be distracted from proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s a huge temptation! But Paul didn’t fall into that trap.
Alternatively, you and I may wrestle with our own wrong motives for sharing the gospel. One of the most significant challenges we all face is the potential for dreadful self-centeredness and pride. Even in matters of our faith, we often wrongly want others to recognize us, and so we do the right thing but for the wrong reasons (or, more usually, a mix of right and wrong reasons). At the same time, we find that envy prevents us from rejoicing in the fruitfulness of another’s life and ministry. But thanks be to God: He still uses broken vessels like us to carry forth the great gift of His message.
So, like Paul, fix your eyes on the goodness of Jesus and the advancement of His gospel, no matter the circumstances surrounding you or the flawed motives you suspect in others or see in yourself. Seek to set aside your own pride and ambition so that your greatest concern will be the Lord’s glory—and as you do so, continue to share Him with those around you. What matters most is that Christ is preached, and in that we can all rejoice.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
7nHow beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, owho brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8The voice of pyour watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
qfor eye to eye they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
9rBreak forth together into singing,
syou waste places of Jerusalem,
for tthe Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10uThe Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
vand all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.

Why Do I Face Trials?
Let me know why you contend against me.
Perhaps, weary soul, the Lord is doing this to develop your graces. There are some of your graces that would never be discovered if it were not for your trials. Do you not know that your faith never looks as good in summer as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glowworm, showing but little light unless it is surrounded by darkness.
Hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine brighter. It was only a little while ago that on your knees you were saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith. Let me know that I have faith.” Were you not really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials? For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is exercised? Depend upon it—God often sends us trials so that our graces may be discovered and that we may be convinced of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery; real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.
God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. Well, Christian, may this not account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Is it for this reason He contends with you?
Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.

Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for February 18
Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt
1aThese are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5All the descendants of Jacob were bseventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6Then cJoseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7dBut the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
8Now there arose a new king over Egypt, ewho did not know Joseph. 9And he said to his people, “Behold, fthe people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10gCome, hlet us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11Therefore they set taskmasters over them ito afflict them with heavy jburdens. They built for Pharaoh kstore cities, Pithom and lRaamses. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel mwork as slaves 14and nmade their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16“When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17But the midwives ofeared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20pSo God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21And because the midwives feared God, qhe gave them families. 22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, r“Every son that is born to the Hebrews1 you shall cast into sthe Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
The Temptation of Jesus
1sAnd Jesus, tfull of the Holy Spirit, ureturned from the Jordan and was led vby the Spirit in the wilderness 2for wforty days, xbeing tempted by the devil. wAnd he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, yhe was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are zthe Son of God, command athis stone to become bread.” 4And Jesus answered him, b“It is written, c‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5dAnd the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, “To you eI will give all this authority and their glory, efor it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8And Jesus answered him, f“It is written,
g“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and hhim only shall you serve.’”
9iAnd he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are jthe Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
k“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
11and
k“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12And Jesus answered him, “It is said, l‘You shall not mput the Lord your God to the test.’” 13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him nuntil an opportune time.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
14oAnd Jesus returned pin the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and qa report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15And rhe taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
16sAnd he came to tNazareth, where he had been brought up. And uas was his custom, vhe went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up wto read. 17And xthe scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18y“The Spirit of the Lord zis upon me,
because he has anointed me
to aproclaim good news to the poor.
bHe has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and crecovering of sight to the blind,
dto set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19eto proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and fsat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were gfixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, “Today hthis Scripture ihas been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22And all spoke well of him and marveled at jthe gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, k“Is not this lJoseph's son?” 23And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, m‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did nat Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24And he said, “Truly, I say to you, ono prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when pthe heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26and Elijah was sent to none of them qbut only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27And rthere were many lepers1 in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, sbut only Naaman the Syrian.” 28When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29And they rose up and tdrove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30But upassing through their midst, he went away.
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon
31vAnd he wwent down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And xhe was teaching them yon the Sabbath, 32and zthey were astonished at his teaching, zfor his word possessed authority. 33And xin the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34“Ha!2 aWhat have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? bI know who you are—cthe Holy One of God.” 35But Jesus drebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36And ethey were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? eFor with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37And freports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
Jesus Heals Many
38gAnd he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now hSimon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39And he stood over her and irebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
40Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and jhe laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41kAnd demons also came out of many, lcrying, “You are mthe Son of God!” But he rebuked them and kwould not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was nthe Christ.
Jesus Preaches in Synagogues
42oAnd when it was day, he departed and went pinto a desolate place. And qthe people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43but he said to them, r“I must spreach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44And he was preaching tin the synagogues of Judea.3
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
1Then aBildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2“How long will you bhunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3Why are we counted as ccattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4You who dtear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or ethe rock be removed out of its place?
5“Indeed, fthe light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6The light is gdark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7His strong steps are shortened,
and his hown schemes throw him down.
8For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9iA trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare lays hold of him.
10A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
a trap for him in the path.
11jTerrors frighten him on every side,
and chase him at his heels.
12His strength is famished,
and calamity is kready for his stumbling.
13It consumes the parts of his skin;
lthe firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
and is brought to mthe king of terrors.
15In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
nsulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16His oroots dry up beneath,
and his branches pwither above.
17His qmemory perishes from the earth,
and he has no name in the street.
18rHe is thrust from light into darkness,
and driven out of the world.
19He has no sposterity or progeny among his people,
and no survivor where he used to live.
20They of the west are appalled at his tday,
and uhorror seizes them of the east.
21Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who vknows not God.”
Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church
1It is actually reported that there is wsexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, xfor a man has his father's wife. 2And yyou are arrogant! Ought you znot rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
3For though aabsent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4When you are assembled bin the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5you are cto deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so dthat his spirit may be saved ein the day of the Lord.1
6fYour boasting is not good. Do you not know that ga little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, hnot with the old leaven, ithe leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter jnot to associate with sexually immoral people— 10knot at all meaning lthe sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, msince then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone nwho bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging ooutsiders? pIs it not those inside the church2 whom you are to judge? 13God judges3 those outside. q“Purge the evil person from among you.”
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