Philippians 2:12-13 – What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I am separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (MSG)

At ages fourteen and nine, my sister Tracey and I were invited to spend the summer without our parents at our grandparents' homes, one in North Carolina and the other in Georgia, USA.

Mom and Dad always had one rule for whenever we were not with them: "Behave, be polite, and tell the truth." Their goal for us was that we would act right always, and that we would be and do better than we did when we were with them.

Mom was worried that we might be too much for our grandmas. Dad assured her that they had taught us well and that we were good girls.

He was right. So, off we went, and overall, we were well-behaved.

If we paraphrase today's Scripture reading, the apostle Paul is giving us the same sort of instructions that our parents gave us: "Act right. Do good. Follow my teachings. Be happy to live a life for God. And do it the same way you have been doing it since we started this journey together." And then, he adds, "Even when we are not together."

That's how we are called to live, putting God first.

It is as though Paul had said, "Be your best self onstage and offstage."

Be who God has made you to be at all times — basic instructions for a successful life as God's child. Although Paul was separated from his friends at Philippi, and we girls were separated from our parents, we Christians are never separated from God. We are always in His presence, so "Behave, be polite, and tell the truth!"

Prayer: Dear Lord, we don't know everything, but You do, and we trust that. Help us always to behave as You would have us do. Amen.

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About the author:

Becky Holland <rlhga@icloud.com>
Empire, Georgia, USA
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