Hi Ladies,
A few weeks ago, we looked at Philippians 1:3-5 and focused our prayer on strong gospel partnerships within our church family. This week, I’d like to look at Paul’s encouragement that follows…
He goes on to say, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Ph. 1:6-8).
Strong partners are consistently learning and growing together, aren’t they? This is the heartbeat of discipleship! The wonderful (and sometimes challenging) thing about these relationships is that they are dynamic:
None of us has arrived.
None of us is beyond our need for them.
None of us is too old or young (physically or spiritually) or too unworthy or too… whatever you might be thinking. 🙂
And the beautiful promise found in the passage above is that God, who began the good work of sanctification in those who are in Christ, will continue it until we are fully glorified in His presence. What a comforting and motivating assurance!
If God has promised to do this in each of us, then we can be - should be - patient and persistent with one another in the growth. But this growth process doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There is a reason the Lord commanded us to disciple one another and partner together! Indwelt by His Spirit, we are His instruments through whom He is accomplishing His work.
We should be both humbled and encouraged. And we should not lose heart in the length or difficulty of this process. The above passage makes it clear that God’s work does not ultimately rise or fall on our shoulders. We are not tasked to fuel this work ourselves (praise God!). Yet, we are called to be obedient channels of His truth and grace. And we can trust His promise to work in and through (and sometimes even in spite of) us.
He who promised is faithful. He will surely do it! (See 1 Thess. 5:23-24)
Lastly, notice Paul’s deep and humble love for these brothers and sisters. He held them in his heart. He shared with them in God’s amazing grace, demonstrated both in their solidarity in his imprisonment and in their passion and commitment to spread the truth of the risen and living Christ. He loved all of them with sincere, familial love. This love was not because they were all easy and likable people. He said it was the very affection of Christ Jesus, made possible by His Spirit that united them. May the Spirit fuel this kind of love for one another among our church family!
So, let’s pray for one another this week, that we might pursue one another with patience and persistence, and with a love that flows from the very heart of Christ.
The Lord continues to increase my love for His church - this church - which means you. And may He do so more and more, in me and in you. ❤️🙏🏼
