Thoughts and prayers
This week is on Philippians 1:3-6:
We've been reading through Philippians this week in another Bible study I go to, and while I was drinking up the words in the first chapter, I noticed these verses. Paul is talking to the church in Philippi and he has such love for them. Whenever he thinks of them, he thanks God.
What a great attitude and excuse for prayer! Instead of just thinking of these people he once invested in, Paul goes a step further and prays for them. Reading the whole chapter, I don't get the sense that he does it in a legalistic way, keeping a tally of minutes spent praying, persons prayed for, chances to pray not missed, etc. It seems genuinely to spring from feelings of love towards these people, and towards God, and a hope to see things succeed according to God's plan. Do we have that kind of love for the ministries and people we support?
But it's also a testament to the love and devotion of the Philippian church. Paul doesn't just pray with joy because he thinks the Philippian church is cool. They've actively partnered with what God has been doing from the beginning of their church up until when Paul is writing. He is confident that what they are doing is the right thing, and that it will turn out well. How many ministries and people can we not say that about? How great it is when we can say it and feel that way.
And the third bit is just as cool. Paul says that whoever began a good work in the Philippian church would carry it on to completion. It's not just the church working at things on their own. It's God helping to carry out the task he's given them. Do we think of our ministry as something we are doing together with God? How might the idea that God is teamed up with us change our confidence for the better as far as the future goes? God doesn't quit.
So that's some food for thought. How do others appear in our thoughts and what do we do about it? How does our ministry inspire confidence in others? And where do we see God fitting into his own plans?
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.
We've been reading through Philippians this week in another Bible study I go to, and while I was drinking up the words in the first chapter, I noticed these verses. Paul is talking to the church in Philippi and he has such love for them. Whenever he thinks of them, he thanks God.
What a great attitude and excuse for prayer! Instead of just thinking of these people he once invested in, Paul goes a step further and prays for them. Reading the whole chapter, I don't get the sense that he does it in a legalistic way, keeping a tally of minutes spent praying, persons prayed for, chances to pray not missed, etc. It seems genuinely to spring from feelings of love towards these people, and towards God, and a hope to see things succeed according to God's plan. Do we have that kind of love for the ministries and people we support?
But it's also a testament to the love and devotion of the Philippian church. Paul doesn't just pray with joy because he thinks the Philippian church is cool. They've actively partnered with what God has been doing from the beginning of their church up until when Paul is writing. He is confident that what they are doing is the right thing, and that it will turn out well. How many ministries and people can we not say that about? How great it is when we can say it and feel that way.
And the third bit is just as cool. Paul says that whoever began a good work in the Philippian church would carry it on to completion. It's not just the church working at things on their own. It's God helping to carry out the task he's given them. Do we think of our ministry as something we are doing together with God? How might the idea that God is teamed up with us change our confidence for the better as far as the future goes? God doesn't quit.
So that's some food for thought. How do others appear in our thoughts and what do we do about it? How does our ministry inspire confidence in others? And where do we see God fitting into his own plans?
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