“in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” Philippians 1:18

God constantly reminds us in Scripture that even when people share the gospel in ways that are selfish, it is still something that can be used for His glory. It’s a good reminder, that even on the weeks when I teach from a less-than-stellar attitude, the Holy Spirit is still working through it on the hearts of the listeners. It’s not dependent on me. In the case of today’s verse, Paul was specifically talking about people who preached the gospel for selfish gain and trying to make a name/fortune for themselves. Despite that, Christ’s name was reaching people who needed Him.

Working for the church means that I can fall into the assumption that I always have to be “on” in order for God to work through me. But it’s simply not true. It’s not about me – the Word speaks even when I don’t share it well. The Holy Spirit moves even when I don’t feel like doing much. The Gospel reaches hearts even when I’m half-hearted. It’s not an excuse, and I don’t let myself do these things, but it’s helpful to remember that I don’t have to stress when things don’t go perfectly (because guess what! They never do!).

Praise the Lord.