The good qualities and what Paul prayed for the church in Philippi
Paul prays and thanks God for his friends in Philippi. As he prays, he does so with joy,because they have shared in the gospel from the first day, probably referring to the earlier days of the mission to Philippi [Acts 16: 12-40].
Writing from prison Paul finds consolation in his suffering knowing that the Philippian disciples are continuing to share the truth and reality of the gospel . To share the gospel is to grasp the fullness of what it means to embrace and live the good news of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Paul is joyful that even if he is in chains, the gospel is being proclaimed, souls are being saved and Jesus is being exalted. Paul here shows us a quality which every Christian should possess, that of love for the lost.
The Philippians were already loving, Paul simply prays that their love might overflow because to love more is to share in the gospel more, even if it means we will suffer more. Paul further encourages the Philippians that as they continue to do the good work of sharing the gospel to the lost, loving their enemies and doing good, God who began the good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul has shown us that true fellowship means praying for one another. We need to emulate Paul's life by praying continually for others as we remember them. We must be filled with thanksgiving and joy as we think about God at work in the body of Christ. Our remembrance should always turn into prayer.
Another good quality we see is that every believer is saved to serve. The Philippians partnered with Paul in serving Christ. We as the church are engaged in mortal combat for souls of men and women. We together must defend the gospel against heresies and spreading it to those who have not heard. As we serve Christ, we must also trust in God's sovereign work in us. God began our salvation and He will finish the job.
In conclusion, we see that Paul brings out several good qualities for us to use in this month of missions. These are praying for others, giving thanks to God, being joyful and continuing to partner with Christ in spreading his good news as we completely depend on Him to bring the good work in us to completion. Remain Blessed.
| I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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. (Philippians1:3-11) |
Rev. Judith. C. Mkandawire, wife to Rev. Thomson Mkandawire, I am the mother to Tapiwa, Tionge, Themba and Mtende. I am currently serving at Linda Presbyterian Church with me bounds of Munali Presbytery in Lusaka, Zambia.
