Living Each Day With Confident Hope
Your Nightly Scripture
Evening Scripture
Philippians, Chapter 1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
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 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. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Evening Reflection
Do you know what it means to live with true and confident hope? To live with a faith that withstands hard times, persecution, famine, and despair? In Philippians 1, this is the type of faith our author, the Apostle Paul, described. In this particular passage, we see that some people were sharing the Gospel Message with the wrong intentions. It was out of envy and even rivalry. But others did share the truth out of goodwill because of their authentic love for the Gospel. It seems strange, doesn’t it? That people would be sharing the Gospel out of envy, rivalry, selfish ambition, and trouble? That defeats the entire message of the Good News! And yet, Paul reminds us that what matters most, even in this debacle, is that Christ is preached.
Living with confident hope is a hope that clings to just that: that Christ is preached. Others may do it for the wrong motives. And in today’s culture, we see it all the time. People sharing Jesus for the sake of being credited or being seen as good. Leading at a Mega Church just for the sake of being popular, loved, or famous. Just like the Pharisees, these people pray in public and wear certain showy clothes to make it known. But friends, watch your heart. Watch your motives. Watch your ambitions. Living with confident hope is a faith that’s real, raw, and genuine. It’s not for show, and it’s certainly not for popularity. Even Jesus was abandoned by all His Disciples when He most needed them. Being a Christian isn’t always what’s popular. But it’s what’s right. Holy. True. And rooted in the firm Word of God.
Today, ask yourself these questions: Am I sharing the Gospel out of envy or to get self-satisfaction, or am I sharing it out of the goodness of my heart? Do I get jealous of others who share the Gospel and are more successful or popular than me? What are my motives for sharing Jesus with others? As you prepare for rest, ask yourself: What is the condition of my heart? If you need to repent, humbly go before the Lord. Know that it’s okay. But then, ask Him to help you change. To be a person who shares the Gospel at all costs. To be someone who shares His life-changing truth for the right motives, so that in turn, their lives will also be transformed. Allow 1 John 3:20 to be your prayer today: “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (NIV).
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Living with confident hope is something that all Christians are called to do. When I share the Gospel with wrong intentions, please convict me. When I share it with the right motives, it strengthens my heart and equips me. Help me to be made right with you, and to bring all glory and honor to your name. I love you, Jesus. Thank you for this gift of your eternal, life-changing, and never-ending hope.
Amen.
How did tonight’s scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture forum discussion.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Bobby Stevenson
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 17 July 2026.
SHARE
