A few Advents ago, I wrote letters until the ring finger on my right hand blistered. For two days straight, I wrote cards of gratitude and joy for each of the volunteers in the children\u2019s ministry I lead, followed by cards filled with stickers and sweet words for every child (ages three and over) in my ministry. In each child\u2019s card, I wrote a variation on a similar theme, but all had the same conclusion: \u201cI hope you always remember how much Jesus loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I assume these cards were tossed aside in the holiday hubbub or purged in the requisite January clean-out that most families undertake. As I wrote, I kept thinking, \u201cDo these words matter? Is it worth the time?\u201d Maybe the cards matter, maybe they don\u2019t, but I know the words on them do. And every time I penned that phrase, I prayed the child who received the card would take it to heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul\u2019s letter to the Philippians starts with similar sentiments, echoing ancient truths and the hope that the words within the letter would sink down deep into the hearts of those who would read it. This opening exhortation to his readers in Philippi offers a template for godly relationships of believers deeply committed to sharing the love of Christ. Paul expressed gratitude for the Philippians, \u201cfor every remembrance\u201d of them (Philippians 1:3), as well as their partnership in the spread of the gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul seemed to care very deeply for the Philippians. As modern readers, we know the rest of this letter will hold both caution and affection. But this beautiful opening reveals the heart and intent behind Paul\u2019s words. We see in these verses how godly relationships work when they are anchored in love for the gospel; there is push and pull, earnest prayer, and deep care for one other\u2019s true well-being and spiritual growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul had a history with the Philippians, and it is on this rich foundation that he built this really beautiful letter. In Acts 16, we see that when Paul first went to Philippi, a woman called Lydia was converted to faith, and then she and her family invited Paul to stay with them. Their generous hospitality was marked by open ears, open hearts, and open homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later in the chapter, Paul and Silas were arrested, and in the end, the Lord delivered them from prison. However, during their imprisonment, one of their jailers became a believer and also welcomed Paul and Silas to his home: \u201cHe brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household\u201d (Acts 16:34).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I write, I see the faces of those believers who I know I can cling to with the same godly affection Paul has for the Philippians, who balance their love for me with their desire for me to grow more like Jesus every day. They aren\u2019t afraid to whisper (or shout) rebuke in love, and they bathe their strong words in prayer for my sanctification. These people have partnered with me in the hard work of sharing the gospel with a world that has become increasingly hostile toward it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am so thankful for these friends, and today I pray for them in the same way Paul prayed for his friends in Philippi: \u201cthat [their] love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,\u201d and that they would \u201cbe pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God\u201d (Philippians 1:9\u201311).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A few Advents ago, I wrote letters until the ring finger on my right hand blistered. For two days straight, I wrote cards of gratitude and joy for each of the volunteers in the children\u2019s ministry I lead, followed by cards filled with stickers and sweet words for every child (ages three and over) in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":71279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[289],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philippiansandcolossians"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"related_plans":[71272],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"#SheReadsTruth","devotional_text":"THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER<\/b>
\r\nby Melanie Rainer<\/i>
\r\n
A few Advents ago, I wrote letters until the ring finger on my right hand blistered. For two days straight, I wrote cards of gratitude and joy for each of the volunteers in the children\u2019s ministry I lead, followed by cards filled with stickers and sweet words for every child (ages three and over) in my ministry. In each child\u2019s card, I wrote a variation on a similar theme, but all had the same conclusion: \u201cI hope you always remember how much Jesus loves you.\u201d<\/p>
\r\n
I assume these cards were tossed aside in the holiday hubbub or purged in the requisite January clean-out that most families undertake. As I wrote, I kept thinking, \u201cDo these words matter? Is it worth the time?\u201d Maybe the cards matter, maybe they don\u2019t, but I know the words on them do. And every time I penned that phrase, I prayed the child who received the card would take it to heart.<\/p>
\r\n
Paul\u2019s letter to the Philippians starts with similar sentiments, echoing ancient truths and the hope that the words within the letter would sink down deep into the hearts of those who would read it. This opening exhortation to his readers in Philippi offers a template for godly relationships of believers deeply committed to sharing the love of Christ. Paul expressed gratitude for the Philippians, \u201cfor every remembrance\u201d of them (Philippians 1:3), as well as their partnership in the spread of the gospel.<\/p>
\r\n
Paul seemed to care very deeply for the Philippians. As modern readers, we know the rest of this letter will hold both caution and affection. But this beautiful opening reveals the heart and intent behind Paul\u2019s words. We see in these verses how godly relationships work when they are anchored in love for the gospel; there is push and pull, earnest prayer, and deep care for one other\u2019s true well-being and spiritual growth.<\/p>
\r\n
Paul had a history with the Philippians, and it is on this rich foundation that he built this really beautiful letter. In Acts 16, we see that when Paul first went to Philippi, a woman called Lydia was converted to faith, and then she and her family invited Paul to stay with them. Their generous hospitality was marked by open ears, open hearts, and open homes.<\/p>
\r\n
Later in the chapter, Paul and Silas were arrested, and in the end, the Lord delivered them from prison. However, during their imprisonment, one of their jailers became a believer and also welcomed Paul and Silas to his home: \u201cHe brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household\u201d (Acts 16:34).<\/p>
\r\n
As I write, I see the faces of those believers who I know I can cling to with the same godly affection Paul has for the Philippians, who balance their love for me with their desire for me to grow more like Jesus every day. They aren\u2019t afraid to whisper (or shout) rebuke in love, and they bathe their strong words in prayer for my sanctification. These people have partnered with me in the hard work of sharing the gospel with a world that has become increasingly hostile toward it.<\/p>
\r\n
I am so thankful for these friends, and today I pray for them in the same way Paul prayed for his friends in Philippi: \u201cthat [their] love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,\u201d and that they would \u201cbe pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God\u201d (Philippians 1:9\u201311).<\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"2","scripture":"Philippians 1:3-11, Acts 16:16-40, Philemon 1:4-7","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}