“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.” Philippians 1:4-6
This letter from the Apostle Paul is
quite remarkable when you consider his first visit to Philippi. During that
visit he and his partner in ministry Silas were mistreated, scourged and put
into stocks for casting out an ungodly spirit from a woman (Acts 16:22-24). Although he saw little fruit from his labors
he still remembers Philippi with joy.
That was the grace of God working in Paul’s life. He remembered the brethren in Philippi. Even
though they were out of sight, they were not out of his mind.
How did Paul remember them? He remembered
them in prayer. His prayers incorporated thanksgiving in them. Paul was keenly aware that everything in his
life started and ended with the grace of God.
We need this keen awareness as well.
Without the mercy and grace of God applied to our lives our best efforts
evaporate like water on a scorching hot day.
The answer for us is to diligently commit ourselves to the ways of the
Lord.
Due to the nature of prayer, we seek from
God His intervention into our lives and the lives of others. With that in mind
we can thank the Lord not only for what He has
done, but also by faith, what He will
do. As long as we are living for and
not against the will of God we can
rely on the fact that He will complete in us the good work He has begun in us.
Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Resources: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary; Ellicott's
Commentary for English Readers & The Reformation
Study Bible.
