Philippians 1:3-11
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; for 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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.
Paul is writing this letter to the church in Phillippi from prison (probably Rome). He has just received a gift sent to him from this church. It is a letter of thanks and also a reminder to keep the faith! Paul mentions that we are in “partnership” with the gospel but what does that mean? This scripture serves as a reminder that we have a obligation as Christians to show Christ’s love through actions. Paul states that whether in chains or defending the faith in public we all share in God’s grace. In your spiritual walk, what chains are keeping you from doing the Lord’s work?
How are you moving to gain knowledge and depth of faith? Advent serves as a time of preparation. It offers each of us the opportunity to get ready! We can begin anew in our relationship with Jesus to be the living body of grace to those who are lost, forgotten or ignored by this world as we await that house not made with hands but eternal to the heavens. May it always be so!
Prayer: Father be with us and give us the confidence to share your word with others. Free us from the chains that may hold us back from doing your work and help us to share the fruit of righteousness that comes from knowing Jesus. Amen
Marv Jones
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