THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Lord, I cringe a little when reading the book of Philippians. Many consider this an instruction manual how to love one another. History records the Philippian believers were terribly persecuted. Losing one’s job, their home, or denied personal freedoms came with publicly identifying as a Christ follower. Lord, in my human reasoning, I question whether I could keep the faith under those circumstances. If Paul reacted according to his flesh, he may have felt the same way.

However, Paul began his letter identifying with his Philippian friends. He too was far from what God wanted him to be.

“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” (Philippians 1:6).

Lord, I’m so much like these Philippians. Their human nature resisted, but your Spirit worked with the inner man of these Philippians, teaching them how to love when love is not returned. You Spirit enabled them to love their enemies as you taught in your sermon on the Galilean hillside (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:35). And love they did. Their enemies were baffled.

“What’s wrong with these people?”

In the face of hostilities, they responded in Christlike love.

“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” (Philippians 1:9–11).

Lord, that my love may be grounded totally in you. Teaching me how I may exhibit that Philippian love.
Amen, Jesus.