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December 17th

The bible reading today is in the four-chapter letter of Paul to the church at Philippi...probably the last of the four prison epistles written during his first imprisonment in Rome.

The Prison Epistles from Rome..? Philemon was a letter to a personal friend in the church of Colossae...concerning victory that comes through forgiveness.

Colossians was a letter to a church that dealt with the divinity of Christ that had been denied by some teachers in that church.

Ephesians was a formal letter to the church at Ephesus dealing with the doctrines and applications of such doctrines in the daily disciple life of doing church together as the Holy Spirit-filled body of Christ.

And now Philippians...A brother in the Lord from the church in Philippi, Epaphroditus, came to Rome to see Paul. He was delivering a financial love offering from the church. Paul’s heart was lifted and the joy of the Lord became his renewed strength for carrying on while in the custody of Rome.

Paul’s letter was a thank you to the church for their timely gift. He wanted to encourage them as they encouraged him. He wanted to give them something that would make their hearts glad forever. And he did.

Now for some of my favorite texts in this letter of joy.

“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.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬

Paul wanted his good friends to know beyond a doubt that the salvation that God began in them through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus would be completed...by Him, not by them...talk about good news and some.

Phil. 1:6 was one of the first 60 bible verses that I memorized right after I got saved 50+ years ago.

I had grown into manhood believing as my family believed...Jesus may have begun my salvation process at the cross, but I had the responsibility of completing it with my faithfulness to God in my daily life.

I was always messing up. I was always sinning. I was so far from being faithful to God. Therefore I had grave doubts that I would wind up in heaven one day. And that led me to simply dismiss myself from all conversations about God and salvation.

Then at age 19, I began to follow Jesus, trusting in Him alone for my salvation. And then to run across this verse in my bible reading was confirming to my soul...”He which began a good work of salvation in me would be the one who would complete it. Now that is something and someone to rejoice in!

Next...“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:21‬

Paul shared his own testimony of life and death. Both of those can be complicated for any believer in Jesus. So Paul, by the Spirit, brought life and death to their common denominators.

Life...including all of its parts...including personal discipleship...marriage relationship...family interaction, jobs, education, friends, etc...

All of that Is Christ...plain and simple.

And death? Well....It is GAIN!

It may be mixed with loss for the loved ones left behind...but for the Christian who has departed? It is GAIN. Thanks for sharing Paul...You and Jesus...us and Jesus too.

So...Even when I feel so weak...when I feel so incapable...when I feel so inadequate...I remember and I believe...“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬

Have a great day