Passage
Convinced of the work God set before me, I know that I will
remain and be with you all – for the sake of your progress and joy in the
faith. As you see Christ work through
me, you may have joy in the faith as I come to you again.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
In the end, it is the work that God has set before Paul that
drives him forward. This is a great moment
to come back to a teaching about identity.
If our identity comes from God, we will always see the purpose
ahead. Regardless of the circumstances,
we will always look for the ways that God is intending to use us. That is a natural side effect of pausing to
get our identity from God.
Where does the world tell us to get our identity? Where do you desire to get your
identity? Which identity – God’s, yours,
or the world’s – makes you feel deeply satisfied and fulfilled? How can learning to get your identity from
God help you to keep an “even keel” about your life?
Second Thought:
Paul works for the sake of others. He works for the spiritual progress of the
people around him. He works for their
increased joy in the faith. Mind you,
that doesn’t always mean that spiritual growth is fun or easy. But it is joyful work to grow closer to God.
Why do you grow spiritually? Why do you do the work of God? What – or who - is the bottom line for you?
Third Thought:
Paul tells the Philippians that their joy will increase as
they see Paul again. In other words, as
he genuinely believes that he will be released from prison, they will be joyful
at seeing Christ at work in him in this manner.
It is pleasing to see God working in and through other people. It helps strengthen our faith as we see the
hand of God in this life.
Why do we often have an easier time seeing God at work in
others? Why is it pleasing to see God at
work in general? Why is it especially pleasing
to see God at work in those that we love?
Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 1:27-28
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