Paul’s Thankfulness and Love

         College is pretty rough, not going to lie. It’s hard going through long days of study and what seems to be no daylight, but rather the stuffy, dark, perilous hours of my dorm room are what seem to be where I spend most of my day. Something that every college student looks forward to is mail from the CPO. Even better yet, the best thing any student would fall head over heels for is a package! Oh the great joys of getting a package! If there is anything I look forward to, it is getting one of these wonderful square gifts from heaven itself… My family sends me packages now and then; my last package I got all my Greek books which I am so thankful for!

         I wonder how I would feel if my family back in California sent me a bunch of money and an actual person servant to cater to my needs. It would be nice if they actually sent me money period let alone an actual servant! What if I was in jail, would they send me any money then? Well I sure hope so, and let me tell you I am sure that I would be more than grateful if I was ever sent anything, like a passage. This is exactly what happened to Paul during his first imprisonment. The Church at Phillipi in Macedonia sent him money and even a personal servant to help him in all he does, Epaphroditus. Paul is so thankful for what they have done! He thanks God over and over again as he says in Philippians verses 3-5-

         ^“3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

          Paul’s joy stands out so much, I mean just look at this passage! He says things like, “always in every prayer” and, “for you all making my prayer with joy!” Paul receives a true blessing from these people who were saved during is 2^nd missionary journey. It’s so clear they have a relationship here full of true fellowship and bond work in Christ.

          In verses 3 and 4 Paul is looking at a stand point from the past. He is looking at what at happened and bringing up the things of memories, you can see how he uses that word remembrance in verse 3. This signifies Paul is speaking from what had happened in the time they had first met. We can see that Paul is so thankful for what the Church of Phillipi has done for him. I mean, he says in verse 3 and 4 that every single time he prays he is thanking God for them. How amazing is that?! How many times can I say that every single time that I have prayed I have thanked God for someone, I stand convicted…

         But there is a twist of time in verse 5. We see him bring the time of what he is speaking about to the present. Notice the end of the verse. He says, “From the first day until now.” Paul is not just saying he was blessed but he was and still is blessed. He goes on in verse 6-

         ^“6And 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.”

         This is an extremely theological statement. There are very few theological concepts in the letter of Philippians because it primarily is a thank you letter to the church of Philippi rather than a theological book. We see that Paul is talking about sanctification in Christ, which is the process of becoming more and more like Christ each and every day. It is important that we realize that Paul is reminding this church that they will not lose their foot hold in their faith. He says, “I am sure of this.” But he brings it back to the real focus of the letter in verse 7-

         ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

         Again, Paul’s passion and his love for this church is so obvious it stands out like a sore thumb. But why does Paul feel so much for this church? The key is in the second half of the verse, “both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” These aren’t your ordinary people. Paul doesn’t like them because they smell nice, or because they are morally good people, or because they were also Jews, but because they stood for the Gospel as faithful Christians just as Paul did. Paul knew as he left the church they were going to be strong believers in their providence of Philippi. And years later, after Paul is still praying for them, he is encouraged because while he was in prison, he heard about how they have revived their concern for him when Epaphroditus came as it says in Phil 4:11. Paul opens up, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.” Paul is worshipping God because of their love for him, he is literally thanking God for what they have done for him, and we need to see this more in our own lives.

         “⁸For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

          And ask for verse 8… Ummm Paul? I think we get the point! Moving on to verses 9-11-

         ^“9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

         These are what I like to call, the “New Church Exhortations.” Paul is writing to the Church of Philippi nothing they don’t already know, but rather reminders for them as a new church. We have to remember this church is not too old. It was only a few years back that they met Paul and God providentially saved them from their sins and placed that lamp stand there. So Paul reminds them, “love more with knowledge and discernment!” He goes on, “And be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Christ.”

         We need to remember that, as Christians, we are all a part of the body of Christ, and we need to be living like this every day with our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we truly live to glorify God, should our minds not be focused on such things? Let’s take heed to Paul’s exhortation to this body he previously met and let us remember we are no different than that body 2000 years ago. We all have the same Spirit in us, lets grow in the same mind, loving more and more with knowledge and all discernment, and making sure we are blameless being filled with the fruit of righteousness all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.