“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,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wow! Paul never lied! Every time he thought about the church at Philippi, he said “Thank you,” to God for them. Not “thank you, but…” or “thank you, if…” Just “thank you, God…”

Most of Paul’s letters were written to churches to rebuke them, or to teach or correct them about something that had gone wrong. Not this one! He wrote this letter out of pure joy because these people delighted his heart. They were loyal, generous, and faithful followers of Jesus and Paul’s teaching about Him. 

Imagine how Paul must have felt…shut up in prison…in a cold, filthy dungeon…chained day and night to a Roman soldier…knowing that his days were numbered…and yet, full of joy. Why? Was it because he knew that his recipients were truly on the road to eternal life? 

These people showed the evidence of the life of Jesus in them. Some of them were faithfully carrying on Paul’s work, preaching about Jesus despite the threat of persecution. They were generous, giving sacrificially to support Paul when he could not support himself. They were maturing in their faith and faithfulness. From the day that they had become a church, they stood with Paul in the dangerous work he was doing.  He had no reason to be anxious about them, only glad when he thought about them. 

So, he could reassure them with confidence…

“…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.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Throughout this letter, Paul’s joy had nothing to do with his circumstances. In fact, where he was and why he was there could have crushed him. “Where is Jesus in all this?” he could have complained…but, instead, he rejoiced…he celebrated.  He was writing to people who were steadfast in their faith and carrying on where he was forced to leave off. Paul knew that, with the calibre of the people of the church at Philippi, the gospel would continue to be preached and lived out to the next generation. 

“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.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul’s confidence lay in the truth that both he and they were held firm and steady by God’s grace at work in them. So, in this bond of love forged by God’s grace, he yearned for the fellowship they shared when they were together.   He had the promise of Jesus in his heart, later recorded by John…

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.””

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ NIV

…and etched into his own conviction and experience…

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬

Paul’s “thank you” embraced the real things about the people in Philippi that made his heart glad. He forgot about his miserable circumstances and set his heart on the good things in which he could truly rejoice. 

To be continued