1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always 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. 6 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. 7 It 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. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Reflection
- Chapter in a Glance. Paul thanked God and prayed for his partners in the gospel (vv1-11). He assured them that his imprisonment had been a good thing (vv12-26), and encouraged them to stand firm together (vv27-30).
- Have any of your good friends ever told you what they appreciate about you? Have you ever listened while others prayed for you? If so, how do you feel when you are assured that others care for you?
- As you read the passage, try to imagine yourself sitting with your whole church listening to this letter as if it’s written for your church. What emotion, phrases, or thoughts come to you? Allow God to speak to you about what that word or phrase means and listen to what He has to say.
- Take a few minutes to put Paul’s prayer into your own words. Use this to pray for your church and your group.
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.
If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible. If your children are younger, you may read vv3-4 only.)
Have you ever been in a new town or new school or new situation and felt you had no friends? Possibly at those times, you recognized how friends are a true gift from God. Paul recognized this as he wrote from prison to his friends at Philippi. Have each family member write a letter to a friend, or a greeting card. Tell your friend you thank God each time you remember her or him. End this time by having one parent leading the family in thanking God for each of the friends mentioned.
Proverbs for Today 22:5-8
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.