"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." Philippians 1:3-4
Over the next few weeks we are going to study through the book of Philippians together! As we get started, read Philippians 1:1-11. Paul starts his letter similarly to his other letters: first, a description of himself (and Timothy) followed by a greeting to his readers. Do you see Paul's description of himself? He calls himself a "bond-servant of Christ Jesus." This means that Jesus is their Lord and Master - they take their orders from him and no other.
Paul then goes into telling the Philippians, his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, how he cares for them: he's thankful for them (v 3), he continuously prays for them with joy (v 4), he has them in his heart (v 7), and he longs for them with the affection of Christ (v 8). Can you imagine this incredible love and care he feels for his Christian brothers and sisters?! He LOVES them...like Christ loves them! Is this seriously possible? Do you truly love your brothers and sisters at your church like this? All of them? How can Paul truly love all of his imperfect brothers and sisters like this? Sandwiched in the middle of the passage is the answer: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (v 6). Paul loves them, not because of who they are or what they have done, but because of who Christ is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do: just as He is at work in you to make you more like Himself every day, He is at work within your brothers and sisters in your church and around the world!!! And He will be faithful to complete what He has started! What an incredible promise! And this is how you and I can love our fellow Christians, whether we agree on everything or not, because our love and affection is rooted in something deeper, stronger and truer than anything else in all the world.
Paul finished this first section by praying for the Philippians. Take time today to join in his prayer - pray it for your fellow brothers and sisters, particularly those you may find it hard to love.
Heavenly Father, I join with Paul in praying for my brothers and sisters here close to home as well as around the world. "This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Amen.
Over the next few weeks we are going to study through the book of Philippians together! As we get started, read Philippians 1:1-11. Paul starts his letter similarly to his other letters: first, a description of himself (and Timothy) followed by a greeting to his readers. Do you see Paul's description of himself? He calls himself a "bond-servant of Christ Jesus." This means that Jesus is their Lord and Master - they take their orders from him and no other.
Paul then goes into telling the Philippians, his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, how he cares for them: he's thankful for them (v 3), he continuously prays for them with joy (v 4), he has them in his heart (v 7), and he longs for them with the affection of Christ (v 8). Can you imagine this incredible love and care he feels for his Christian brothers and sisters?! He LOVES them...like Christ loves them! Is this seriously possible? Do you truly love your brothers and sisters at your church like this? All of them? How can Paul truly love all of his imperfect brothers and sisters like this? Sandwiched in the middle of the passage is the answer: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (v 6). Paul loves them, not because of who they are or what they have done, but because of who Christ is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do: just as He is at work in you to make you more like Himself every day, He is at work within your brothers and sisters in your church and around the world!!! And He will be faithful to complete what He has started! What an incredible promise! And this is how you and I can love our fellow Christians, whether we agree on everything or not, because our love and affection is rooted in something deeper, stronger and truer than anything else in all the world.
Paul finished this first section by praying for the Philippians. Take time today to join in his prayer - pray it for your fellow brothers and sisters, particularly those you may find it hard to love.
Heavenly Father, I join with Paul in praying for my brothers and sisters here close to home as well as around the world. "This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Amen.