Everything's Possible - Day 3

May 14th, 2024

Philippians 1:3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

This part of the letter is just great! It is not unlike Paul to start with a thanksgiving and praise report, and he does so here as well. He wants them to know that he has some genuine love for them, and he prays for them. He thinks of them with joy, and he recognizes the fact that they have partnered with him in his preaching of the Gospel.

How did they partner with him? They must have been supporting his ministry financially over the years. Even back then, doing ministry took support. Paul must have found it an incredible relief not to have to worry about his finances because he had some great communities supporting him. The same is true today as well. When a ministry does not have to worry about making ends meet each month, it is much easier to do ministry.

Let me take this moment to thank all of you who give to the Crosswalk Ministries, to Online, to Lovewell Creative (A supporting ministry of Crosswalk), and to all the different ministries that are happening all over the world because of your commitment!

Paul’s joy in the Philippians is something to take notice of. He does not always say this in his letters, but the emotion and gift he feels from them is pure Joy. Joy lies at the heart of the Christian experience of the Gospel; it is the fruit of the Spirit in any truly Christian life, serving as primary evidence of the Spirit’s presence. In other words, if your faith does not bring you joy, then perhaps it is time to reconsider what it is that you believe.

In verse 5, the basis for his thanksgiving is the past, the way that they have supported him. In verse 6, the basis for his thanksgiving is the future. It is the future where he sees God continuing the work that he started in the Philippians so that when the day of Jesus’ return happens, all things will be finished.

But Paul is not finished with his Thanksgiving; we see he is confident because he understands them and has been friends with them for so long. Do you have a friend who is so close that even when you haven’t spoken in a while, the friendship does not falter? Someone who you know so well that there is nothing that can break that bond? This is the way Paul felt about those in the church in Philippi.

He ends this portion with his prayer as a petition. It is a single sentence whose overall concern and meaning seem clear enough.
Paul prays (1) for their love to abound more and more; that (2) this might be accompanied by full knowledge and moral insight; so that (3) they might approve of those things that really matter; so that (4) they might be blameless when Christ returns; as (5) they are now full of righteousness, fruit that is (6) effected by Jesus Christ and (7) for the glory and praise of God.

That is enough for today. Have a great day!