Daily Devotion: Feel Good Friday Thoughts with Total Apex Media | October 10, 2025

It’s finally Friday, and time for your daily devotion. In Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, he is both a proud parent and a corrective father. He expects the church to lay aside strife and walk in love and unity.

In addition to its inner struggles, the church faced Judaizers trying to replace their freedom in Christ with laws. In Philippians 3:2, Paul warns, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” The word “concision” is slang for circumcision. Paul tells the church that they are the true circumcision because they worship God with their heart, not with their flesh.

Paul, who knows Jewish law better than anyone, provides a synopsis of his life in verses 5 through  7.

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

In today’s daily devotion, realize you don’t have to be held captive by your past; you now have newness of life. Your start does not have to define your ending.

Qualifications

Paul is a Jew; he was born into Jewish ceremony and traditions. He was circumcized according to the Jewish law. He’s from the tribe of Benjamin, which traces back to Israel’s first king, after whom he’s named, and ultimately to the twelfth son of Jacob. Born and bred a Hebrew, he’s of pure Jewish descent.

Paul is proficient in Jewish law, but Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road changed the way he views the law. He now lives by the law of faith. When you’re born again, you no longer cling to religious traditions of your past. In today’s daily devotion, boldly confess that you now walk in the freedom which Christ has given you.

Zeal

In Acts 9:1, Paul is “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” Considering belief in Christ heresy, he goes to the high priest for letters to bind believers in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem. In his zeal, Paul is ready to bring destruction to Jews who have now embraced Christ. However, on the way to Damascus, he sees a bright light that changes everything.

In this daily devotion, rejoice that the light of the gospel has changed your life. The path you were on was leading you away from Christ. Now you’re committed to following the Master. In today’s daily devotion, praise God that your zeal has been redirected to bring glory to God.

Law Abiding

Paul was a strict observer of Jewish laws and traditions. He belonged to the most influential Jewish sect of his day, the Pharisees. They were considered experts in the Mosaic law and the teachings of the elders. They were regarded as righteous men because they followed the letter of the law. Paul said he was “blameless” or righteous when it came to adherence to the law. 

After becoming a believer, Paul proclaimed in Galatians 3:11 that righteousness is not by the law but by faith in Christ. In your daily devotion, shout unto God that you have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ!

His Gain was Loss

Everything Paul once held as true, righteous, and gainful was actually a loss for Christ. How was it a loss for Christ? Every moment spent outside of God’s will is spent opposing the Kingdom of God. As believers, we have been commissioned by Christ to make disciples of men. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said that “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

If you’re not advancing the Kingdom of God, you’re working against it. Separated from his mother’s womb by God and called to be an apostle, Paul came in contact with the Light. On the Damascus Road, Christ identified Himself as the One Paul was persecuting. Reflect on the life-changing moment when you accepted Christ. He died that His light might shine through you.

In your daily devotion, thank God that His light shines through you. And you are building the kingdom, not hindering its progress.

Final Word

In today’s daily devotion, we observe Paul’s concern for the Philippian church. He writes to encourage, correct, and instruct them in godliness. Paul was once zealous about persecuting believers but then joined them in the faith. The chief of sinners became a slave for Christ. Think about how your life has changed since accepting Christ.

In today’s daily devotion, realize that it doesn’t matter how you start; it’s how you finish.