Take Two in the Morning...Phil 1, Proverbs 19.

Philippians 1; Proverbs 19:

This is a daily reflection on two chapters of Scripture from my morning quiet time. (One chapter from a book as well as the Proverb of the day.) I would love to hear how the Lord impressed you today...so shoot back your thoughts.

In Phil 1, Paul is introducing a letter to a great church. The church at Philippi was special to him and had been a help to him in his missionary endeavors. If we remember that Paul wrote this letter to them from prison, then it really hits home. In v.3, he assures them of his continued prayer for them. v.4 tells us that he experiences joy when he thinks of them because (v.5) of their partnership (fellowship) in the gospel. He goes on and mentions that they have been there with him from the beginning, throughout imprisonment, and as he preached/proclaimed the gospel. You may ask, "If they were with him all this time, why write a letter?"

Well, the fact is, they were not physically with him, but they partnered with him just the same. In fact the work translated in v.5 "partnership/fellowship/participation is the Greek Word koinonia...which we understand to be a close connection and fellowship. It is the intimate relationship that all Christians share as those who have been saved by God's grace and are pursuing God's agenda. While they were separated, he drew joy at their close fellowship with him. He considered them to be full partners and credited them as having been with him through his trials (prison) as well as through his ministry (defense of the gospel). In the same way, you and I can participate with God and God's servants throughout the world every day...even if we are not there. How?
By being attuned to what is going on in the spiritual realm. Paul explains in vv. 12-18 that while the enemy thought to destroy or discourage him, Christ was preached.
By praying for them. In v.19, Paul said: "Keep the prayers coming. They are an encouragement and God's grace sustains. Paul's greatest prayer was not necessarily for deliverance, but that he would honor Christ in all things.
By conducting our lives in a way worthy of Christ. This one is a bit stretching...but Paul states that he is encouraged when the believers in Philippi are busy about fulfilling their ministries. V.27 tells us that Paul directed them to remain steadfast in the face of enemy opposition and continue to stand firm together, laboring for the faith that is in Christ. (I would think he would have told them to take up a collection and hire Johnny Cochran!) No...he said, stand firm and stand together.

I have friends who serve as missionaries overseas. When we talk, it seems that they are very interested in the condition of the American church. I guess that it is true to Scripture...they are encouraged in their task when they are assured that we are busy about ours...here.

Proverbs 19:17 is my takeaway today-
The verse is about our generosity. It states (paraphrased), that when we are generous to others, we are instruments of God's work... Specifically, when we give generously, we are lending to God. It goes on to and states that God will certainly repay our generosity.

Generosity is something that is not spoken of in many churches...because it makes people uncomfortable. Still, God says that by being generous, we are lending to Him...and He will repay us. In other words, we will never be out when we are generous. Someone once said that he who gains the most in life is the one who does not hold on too tightly to what he has. If you want to gain, you must give it away. This reflects a truism, not only about finances, but about all aspects of our lives.