Paul clearly loved the church at Philippi. In verse 4, Paul says that he always prays with joy when he remembers them. They have partnered together in joy and sorrow as they work towards the building of the church and their individual relationships with the Lord. He longs to see them and yet does not go back to Philippi. Sometimes God’s work and calling leads us away from dear friends and close relationships. It is not always easy, but Paul understood two things about the gospel. First, he would see them again, if not on earth, then for eternity. Second, his desire to see them, could not be made more important than his calling. His emotional ties to Philippi could have seen him settle down into a life of easy contentment with the people he cared about. He chose to go to the next city, risking his own life to spread the message of the gospel.
- What emotional ties could keep me from living out my purpose in Christ?
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
- Paul was entirely sure that God would not stop the work in the lives of the Philippian believers. He was confident that God started the work and would bring it to completion. God does not abandon his own. Even when we may feel stagnant or alone, we are not. The Holy Spirit is continually working to refine us, if we allow him. We are to remain close to the source of our strength and allow him to mold us into his image. We can be confident that God has done the work to redeem us and will continue to refine us into something more like himself.
- Is God working in me right now? Do I have confidence that God will not abandon me?
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
- Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi is that they would grow in knowledge and discernment so they would be wise and blameless. Does this reflect our prayers for our church, community and loved ones? So much of the time our prayers for others revolve around bettering circumstances in the lives of believers. We ask for healing, a new job, safety while travelling, and peace in times of trials. While these are all good things to ask the Lord for, we should consider how we are praying for others and to what end. If we want people to become slightly better sinners, our prayers will be empty. If we want others to be more like the Savior, our prayer lives should reflect that reality. We should pray as Paul does that those we love grow in knowledge, wisdom, and holiness.
- What do we want for those we love? Can my prayers extend beyond the borders of safety and security and move into prayers for true godliness?
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. ” – 1 Timothy 6:6
Life Application: Examine your prayers for others. What are we focused on when we bring our thoughts to the Lord for those around us?
For Prayer: Pray for the people of Uganda as we prepare to share the gospel there on a short term trip.