Philippians 1:6: God’s not done with you!
Today’s devotion is based on Philippians 1:1-11: Joy in the Journey: Week 1 (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 1:6 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.
When are you going to be done?
Do you have a home project that has taken years to get to and remains unfinished? Has your spouse ever said, “Are you ever going to finish that?”
Perhaps a confident “Yes” is waning to “Hmm, I’m not sure when.”
In San Jose, CA there is a home that was built by Sarah Winchester over the span of 36 years. As heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune, she spent over $5 million (over $70 million in today’s dollars) to continually add on to a 8 room farmhouse to now an eccentric mansion that has over 160 rooms. The building continued until her death in 1922. The exact reason when she kept building is not exactly known, but seems to be centered on superstition that if she stopped, she would die. (Curious? Here’s link: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/history/)
The Winchester Mystery house is an anomaly in the history of California, but Paul alludes to a building project that is continuing in each believer. It’s not adding rooms to a physical structure, but adding room and capacity for the Spirit of God and the fruit he produces in the hearts of people.
What is parallel, is that this work will continue until the day we die or see Jesus face to face at his second coming.
So what is he building in you?
He’s building a deeper love for his grace.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
He’s building the fruit of the Spirit to produce a harvest of blessing for the kingdom.
2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He’s building a stronger hope through challenge and hardship.
Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we[b] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
At times we wish God were done building in us. But there is also a comfort to know that God cares enough about you today to work in you today, to work on you today, to develop you for the good work he has you doing or planning for you today. Remember today you are God’s workmanship and he is working in you, on you and through you.
And he will continue until you are in the perfection of heaven!
Apply: How are you seeing/sensing God working on you today? Is there an aspect of faith? Character? Habits? Mindset? Etc. that he is molding and working on you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for not giving up on me, but continuing to work on me! AMEN
Philippians 1:3-5: Gratitude for Gospel Partners
Today’s devotion is based on Philippians 1:1-11: Joy in the Journey: Week 1 (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
People matter.
Paul wanted the people in Philippi to know they mattered.
Paul wanted the people in Philippi to know he was grateful for them.
Paul wanted the people in Philippi to know he treasured their partnership in the Gospel.
Acts 16 records the initial interactions of Paul and the city of Philippi. His first contact was Lydia, a seller of purple cloth. She became the host for the new church in Philippi. She opened her home for Paul and all the other new Christians that would believe in Jesus as their Savior.
Acts 16:13-16 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
The brutality of the magistrates in Philippi was countered by the kindness of the jailor who watched over Paul and Silas. When the witness of Paul touched the heart of the jailor, his whole family became part of the Gospel team through baptism, initially expressing their love with a meal and treating of the flogging wounds.
Acts 16:33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
I’m sure there were more. More women engaged in business, or the busyness of caring for their families and home. More men from government or commerce that came to a conviction of heart that Jesus was their Savior. It was a faith that was sparked and fanned by the Holy Spirit to not just believe, but to serve for the advancement of the Gospel.
Paul was imprisoned in Rome…but the Gospel was working in Philippi.
Why?
Because of the partnership Paul shared with Gospel ministers in Philippi.
Whether you are part of the Crosspoint family or engaged in another part of the country or the world. I thank God that he has brought you to faith and led you to live out that faith. This partnership isn’t one that we sign up for or get a contract for, but rather one that happens when the Gospel goes to work in your heart.
Perhaps the greatest realization is that God himself has invited you to partner with HIM in the Gospel ministry. It doesn’t matter your background…family…business…politics…country of origin…the power of the Gospel unites us in a common cause: To advance the Gospel.
I thank God for each of you and the way God is and will use you to bring Jesus to your family, community, workplace, school, and your world of influence.
Paul had a smile on his face as he wrote this…he was filled with joy for the gift of Gospel partners.
So am I.
I pray you are too!
Apply: Ask yourself: Who are the people who have helped shape my faith? A mentor, a friend, a pastor, a praying parent? Take time to thank God for them, and maybe even send a message or write a note expressing that gratitude.
Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for your Gospel partners who brought me the word of truth. Use me as a partner in your Gospel work to bring that message of grace to others. AMEN
Philippians 1:1-2 – Personal and Grace-filled!
Today’s devotion is based on Philippians 1:1-11: Joy in the Journey: Week 1 (WATCH HERE)
The letter God’s Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write is one that is filled with God’s heart communicated through Paul’s heart. In spite of challenging circumstances when Paul first visited Philippi (Acts 16), ten years later as Paul is under house arrest in Rome, he writes with deep love and appreciation for the saints in Philippi. While written almost 2000 years ago, God uses the same words to touch our hearts and lives today. In all situations he desires us to see his grace so that we find joy in our journey of life to eternity, just like the Apostle Paul did.
I pray these devotions this summer on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, encourage your heart and bring you joy for your journey of life to eternity with your Savior.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
The focus is always on Christ. Paul was imprisoned in Rome and Timothy, his partner and pastor friend was with him. The opening greeting is not from individuals feeling victim to the circumstances, but rather clear on their purpose: servants of Christ Jesus. Their life was identified by the one they serve and their reason for writing to the Christians in Philippi was the same. They write with hearts devoted to the Lord Jesus to bring encouragement from the Lord Jesus.
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Not only did Paul and Timothy see themselves through the lens of Christ, they saw all the people in Philippi through the lens of Christ. People like Lydia, the seller of purple cloth who came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah or the jailor and his household who were baptized when grace entered their lives. Each one was a recipient of the grace of God that made them holy in the eyes of God. They were people who were not identified as saints because of their good works and contribution to the community of Philippi, but simply because they were in Christ Jesus. Everyone covered in the blood of Jesus is rightly called a saint. Paul saw them through this lens and he wanted them to see themselves through this lens.
The same is true for you. Your status and identity is a saint in Christ Jesus. You are not defined any longer by your sin, but by your Savior. YOU are a saint in Christ Jesus!
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We can receive nothing greater from God than his grace and peace. With these words, Paul not only sets the tone of his letter, but fills the hearts of his recipients. Grace is God’s undeserved gift of his love and forgiveness that he has given to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Peace is the calm in our hearts knowing that our relationship with God is no longer in conflict because of sin, but rather at peace because of the payment for sin Jesus made. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)
What is exceptional about this statement is both grace and peace are FROM God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Let our efforts be put aside, for that ruins grace. Let our search and striving for peace cease, for the quest is not attainable by our efforts.
Grace and peace are God’s gifts to you! He doesn’t demand payment. He doesn’t add conditions. He simply puts these gifts in your lap to enjoy each day. He wants them to set the tone for your day and be the reality that fills your heart.
You are loved. You are at one with God.
Enjoy this gift today!
Apply: Grace and peace can sometimes be concepts “out there.” How can the gift of grace and the status of peace be more real in your heart and life today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of grace and doing all that was necessary to bring peace with God. Let each day be filled with the grace and peace only you can give. AMEN.
What to do while waiting…
Today’s devotion is based on Revealed: Week 6 – Forever Revealed! (WATCH HERE)
Do you remember the first time you were old enough to be left alone at home? Usually there were two types of communication before mom and dad left. Here’s what you are to do and the expectations and here’s what will happen if you don’t follow those expectations. They would leave with the words, “We’ll be back soon” and then walk out the door voicing the words, “We love you!”
What ensued after the door closed could go one of two ways, especially if you were in charge with younger siblings. First you could play the power trip and make life more difficult for your siblings by claiming more authority than was given to you. This may manifest in adding more rules, having your siblings clean your room, or other tasks before they can enjoy the evening treat mom and dad said they could have. Or second, you could simply do nothing and let your siblings do whatever they wanted and just check out and do your own thing. As a result the house gets to be a mess and crazy things happen.
Or you can simply communicate accurately to your siblings what your parents had said and maintain a calm household guided by the words of your parents, you simply being the messenger and guide with them.
In a very similar way, Jesus leaves his last words to his people before he leaves. The Spirit of God gives them to the Apostle John:
Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Jesus has given his words before he left the earth. We don’t need to add to them or take away from them, just read them, believe them and live them. He is up front with the consequences because he loves us enough to warn us. We have a tendency to let our pride and power want to add to things Jesus said to make us “more religious” or “more perfect” than someone else. As a result, we just place ourself under the law, not grace and doom ourselves to live under the curses given to law breakers. We can also become lax on our love for the Word and use just the words we like. As a result we lose grace. We lose Christ. We lose eternity.
Jesus left ALL his words for us to enjoy and put into practice while he is gone. They are for our blessing and for his glory.
He’s coming back soon. On his way back to heaven, he says, “I love you!” “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.” He wants us to wait with anticipation, a focus on his word and confident of his grace.
And when he comes back, it will be a joyous day, not one of condemnation, but one of grace and welcome into his kingdom!
Apply: Jesus is coming back. What will you resolve to do while you wait for him?
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come! AMEN.
You are invited.
Today’s devotion is based on Revealed: Week 6 – Forever Revealed! (WATCH HERE)
Two things that make a person feel valued and loved is to be in the know and to be invited to participate in something you really want and need.. When you are given “inside information” it is a testimony to not just the importance of the information, but the importance of you, especially if that information is important and valuable.
As Jesus finishes the last book of the Bible, he says this:
Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
It’s always great to be in the know.
Jesus wants us to know. The whole book of Revelation is Jesus’ heart to make sure every member of his Church knows both the spiritual battle that is waging and the path to victory in his power and promises. He wants the Church to know as it seems beaten and broken by persecution that he hasn’t forgotten and really has given them the ultimate victory.
The names he chooses to give backing to his person and the testimony he gave is his connection to King David – both the Root and the Offspring. He was before David, but also of David. He is God, preceding David according to his divinity. He is true man, being born of the blood line of David. He carries the power of the eternal king and, like King David, a warrior who has won the victory over sin, death and the devil.
He is the “bright Morning Star.” The one that Shines to break the darkness. He is the one who brings hope to his people. In the visual of the book of Revelation, he is the one who always brings light, hope and life to God’s people.
He wants you to know him and his testimony.
It’s always great to be invited.
At the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry is the completion of the payment for sin, the dismantling of Satan’s power, and the victory over death. The nature of life and spiritual battles leave us weary and battle worn. As Jesus gives his testimony, the Spirit of God carries the task to make sure the life that Jesus gives makes it to the ears and hearts of people. He established his Church, his bride, to be a main communicator of this message. He wants those who have been refreshed by the water of life to be the communicators and inviters to others…that includes you and me.
The amazing nature of grace is that this refreshment is free.
We can invite without discretion and offer without cost. Why?
Because Jesus just wants people to be unburdened from their sin and live in the quiet hope that he has given them victory over sin, death and the devil.
Just like he has given to you!
Apply: Who do you know who is spiritually parched and would benefit from the Water of Life Jesus offers?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us your testimony and your invitation. Lead us to listen always to you and drink freely from the water of life. AMEN.