A Love Letter to YOU!!

Philippians 1:1-11

¹ This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

So, Paul has written a letter to a Church in Philippi.  You can tell by his writing how much he loves this Church.  He sees them as actively being involved in partnership with him in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

He loves their generosity, their belief in him, their passion for Jesus, their willingness to share and live the Gospel in their Community.  (it reminds me a bit of C3 Church Carlingford and Wentworthville!!)

You can tell this Church gets it.  They are not people using the Church for their own gain or need, but actively loving and caring for each other, their Community and Paul.   These are disciples actively living the Gospel in their Community in Philippi.

Paul emphasises what is important: how you live (pure and blameless lives) and what you do (have a focus of the Gospel of Jesus in all you do).  It seems so simple and yet we all find it hard to live this at times….

Jesus, help me to live a pure and blameless life.  Help my life become a witness to your love and generosity to those around me.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

You may find this Bible Project overview of Philippians helpful.