WHY BE THANKFUL?
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Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, speak to me through the Scripture passage I reflect on today. Help me to hear what I need to follow Jesus with greater faith and conviction.
Read PHILIPPIANS 1:1–6
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 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.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think of people who have helped you to begin and grow in your Christian faith. Spend a few minutes giving thanks to God for them.In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expresses great affection for his readers. Greek letters conventionally begin with a thanksgiving for the recipient, and Paul expands and Christianizes this standard opening. Paul’s is not just human warmth, as toward a good friend. This is thankfulness to God for the results of his work among the believers (v. 6). Paul thanks God regularly for them and rejoices for two key reasons.
First, they share in Paul’s gospel ministry as he travels around the Greek and Roman world planting and establishing new churches (v. 5). This certainly includes their praying for his work (1:19), and they also support him financially (4:14–18). Their money frees Paul from having to work to support himself, as he did in Corinth until Timothy brought the Philippians’ gift for him (Acts 18:1–5).
Secondly, Paul is confident that God will finish the work he has started in the Philippians’ lives (v. 6). The God Paul serves does not do half measures: when God starts a job, he carries through to completion. Paul looks forward with anticipation and confidence to ‘the day of Christ Jesus’ when Jesus returns to earth and finally and fully transforms believers to be the people he wants them to be (see 3:20, 21).
Apply
Return to offering thanks to God, focusing now on the confident hope we have in God completing our transformation to be like Jesus.
Closing prayer
Everything I am and have I offer to you, my only Lord Jesus, my joy and righteousness. What can I say and do to show my love for you today?
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