FRIDAY June 28th
Continuing from our previous devotion, we come to the verses in Philippians Chapter 1 which tells us what it was that Paul prayed for them, it is in verses 9-11.
‘And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.’
- That their love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment
- That they may approve what is excellent.
- That they may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ
- That they may be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.
- And ultimately, that it may all be to the glory and praise of God.
We will consider each of these thoughts over the next week of devotions, one for each day.
Yesterday I used three words that are easily seen in these verses, firstly that Paul prayed for them, secondly, he pastored them and thirdly he appreciated the partnership that he had with them.
In the later verses of this letter Paul has this to say, ‘Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved’, (4:1).
His relationship towards them was such that he cared deeply for them, he loved them, and he longed for them—I am going to suggest that he may have meant that he longed to see them again, or that he could have meant that he longed for them to reach the finishing line which he had been talking about in the previous verses in chapter 3. In my own words, ‘I love you and long for you all to get to the end of the race, to be those who will know the completion of the good work which God began in you the moment you came to faith.’
Paul is an example to what we should be like towards one another in the body, wanting to pray for one another, wanting to be in partnership with one another, but also wanting to spur each other on, that together we may run the race, but even more so, what those who are in leadership should be like towards those whom they have under their care as the flock of God.