Philippians 4: 20-23
Note: For the Summer we are reprinting some devotions that ran back when we were getting this site up and running. Hopefully this is new content to you, and we will get back into writing fresh devotions as our schedule allows. 23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
And with this we conclude our study of the book of Philippians. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Grace is favor from God that we don't deserve. We couldn't do anything to earn it, yet God chose to give to us freely. In the end, all that matters is our relationship with God and what He's done for us, and that's what Paul wants us to remember as we close out this study.
Are you relying on God's grace, or your own works?
-Jeff-
Philippians 4: 18-19
Note: For the Summer we are reprinting some devotions that ran back when we were getting this site up and running. Hopefully this is new content to you, and we will get back into writing fresh devotions as our schedule allows.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
I know that this verse is talking about money, but I can't help but think that the word gift was used on purpose. Don't think for a second that all God wants is your money. He wants so much more than that. In fact, some of us don't have any money to give, but we can offer God our time or our talents. Now, those things should never replace giving money to a church, but God wants more than just your money.
It's not a bad thing to have stuff, but God doesn't want your stuff to have you! What I mean is if you can't give your last 10 dollars, then that's exactly what God will ask for, because he wants to be more important to you than stuff.
And verse 19 says that if we give then we can be confidant that God will supply all of our needs as well, because that's the kind of God He is.
-Jeff-
Philippians 4:14-17
Note: For the Summer we are reprinting some devotions that ran back when we were getting this site up and running. Hopefully this is new content to you, and we will get back into writing fresh devotions as our schedule allows. 15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
When Paul speaks of sharing in his difficulty, he's talking about money. The group that he was writing to had helped to fund his ministry, and this is his thank-you letter. I find the last sentence of this letter interesting. He says that he wants them to get a prize because of their giving. We should never give in order to get something, whether from God or from people, but if you read the Bible it's obvious that those who give are blessed.
Malachi 3 says this: 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
This is the only part of the Bible where God says to test Him. When we give, God is there waiting to pour out His blessings upon us!
-Jeff-
Philippians 4:13
Note: For the Summer we are reprinting some devotions that ran back when we were getting this site up and running. Hopefully this is new content to you, and we will get back into writing fresh devotions as our schedule allows.
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
When was the last time you tried to do something that was too big for you? When Kadin was four we started giving him an allowance (really even when he was younger he'd get a penny for doing chores). It's amazing how nice that is to be able to say to the kids "Do you have any money?" when they're asking for everything in the entire store. But to get back on track, he learned to save money for things that really had value. In fact, one time I challenged him that I would match his money if he wanted to save for a Nintendo DS (remember, he's four at this point), so he got to work doing odd jobs for people and saving allowance til he'd earned about $40. He still plays his DS a ton. I remember thinking that there was no way he could do it, yet he did. He even skipped hot chocolate at the coffee stand (when his sister got one) so that he could save his money.
The Bible says that we can do all things through Christ, so what are you believing for? Are you trying to raise money for missions? Are you hoping your friend will get saved? Too often as Christians we focus on what we can't do, instead of what God wants to use us to do.
In closing, let me ask this question: "What is the one thing you would do today, if you knew there was no chance you could fail?"
-Jeff-
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