Paul Walker (not the actor; the former pastor of the 11,000 member Mt. Paran Church of God in Atlanta, GA) calls the book of Philippians the book of joy. This can be seen in verse three:
I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
Paul, along with Timothy, writes a letter to the church in Philippi to continue His role as a teacher while answering questions being sent his way. Paul’s traditional greeting is seen in the first two verses. Paul writes to all of the churches and to each of the overseers and deacons.
I find that fact that Paul mentions the overseer and deacons by title a little curious. He could have been reinforcing the authority given to them. He may have wanted them to pay special attention. I am not sure yet why, but it may be from Paul’s uncertainty of his future. Paul is in chains, and this letter is his way of trying to get the leaders of the church to step up and lead. Paul could die in the hands of the Romans, and he wanted to reassure the church of their capable leaders.
Paul places God first in the discussion by asking for God’s grace and peace to be extended to the people hearing the letter. God offers underserved favor and contentment in Christ. With grace and peace we have the confidence to accomplish any task He presents to us and to live an abundant life.
The work of Paul in Philippi gave him good memories. Even in chains, he is able to smile at the work he is unable to tend. Paul knows the best thing he can do is to offer prayer and supplication. For Paul, praying for this church is a work of joy. Paul has watched their eagerness to participate in the growth and in the message of the church. God’s work in them is easily seen in their hard work. They acted like the church was meant to act.
The testimony of their work helped Paul in his confinement and in his continued work in the defense of gospel. He knew they held him up in prayer, and they respected him enough to continue the work of Christ without having Paul hover over them in direction. They took up the cross and pushed forward.
Revealing his personal prayer for them is a very intimate gesture. More than that, it reveals his hopes for them. He prays for the church to abound in love – not just in action. He prays for their love to grow in knowledge and insight. This is incredibly insightful, no…powerful! He wants their love to grow in the knowledge of God but mainly in the way God sees His creation and how He interacts with His creation. Paul wants the church to interact with each other and the world in the same manner as God – with a love that bears no bounds. Even more, Paul prays for their love to grow in insight which means he wanted them to be aware of people – not just nod a head in acknowledgement. He wanted the church to be aware of the hurts without having to ask. This is a deep, deep understanding of God’s love. I wish I was this deep in understanding the love of Christ.
This brings to mind my chance meeting with an old friend at a local park last night. I know I had not seen this young man in about 2-somting years (yes, twenty). He recognized me first. I knew I recognized him but his name wasn’t coming to me. The funny thing is I think about him and his brother every time I drive by where their home used to be (it has been moved). I bring this to mind because in our trying to catch up, I felt that he knew my Savior, and he did. I was using the insight God had given me.
I know this is a simplistic example, but it goes to the point that God makes us aware of others and what they need and how we should be praying. The problem is that we often miss God’s leading. We miss how the Spirit is directing us – partly because we are not growing an abundant love that abounds in knowledge and in insight. (Toe crushing)
Here is the deeper statement. Paul wants this growth in love to help the people to discern what is best so they can remain blameless and pure until the return of Christ. There are times when the church throughout history has missed this statement. Discern what is best means we make the best decisions to remain pure – I want to jump ahead here so badly and quote Philippians 4:8. Purity in our thoughts and actions can only be maintained in how we feed our hearts and minds. Feeding on questionable subject matter causes more confusion and improper motives than feeding on the pure things in life (4:8 – sorry jumping ahead again):
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 (NIV)
Purity and being blameless lead to a “harvest of righteousness.” Jesus is the source and the giver of such righteousness. Feed on God’s Word, practice the love of Christ, and watch how it changes you “from the first day until now.”
- Do people think of you with joy?
- Are you doing everything to be at peace with others regardless of their attitudes? Are you being aware of others the way the Holy Spirit is leading you?
- How are you feeding your mind?
- What are you harvesting?
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