Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 05, 2010
Philippians 1:7-11
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
 

One of the many benefits of being a Christ-follower is making forever friends along the way. My husband and I have so many friends in various places all over the world. Friends we got to know and shared ministry with, and yet our lives have taken us to different places that prevent us from enjoying time together. There are also friends and family who have already moved on to Heaven. Even though we are separated for now, we can look forward to eternity to share God’s grace together.

It is intriguing to me that Paul tells the Philippian Christians that he prays for their “love to abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” Of course, I’m not a theologian, but it seems most times we tend to extract the phrase “abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” and fail to see that it is love that he admonishes us to abound in. There is nothing more cruel than so-called “knowledge and depth of insight” without love. And it seems to me, as I read this, that it is in the love abounding that knowledge and depth of insight is attained. In verse 11, Paul continues the thought of abounding in love as producing the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ and therefore brings glory and praise to him as well. 

In other words, if we desire greater knowledge and insight, we must first ask God to fill us with his love – so much that we are overflowing with it. You know, if we are completely full of God’s love for others, there won’t be any room for hatred, envy, discontentment, or any other sinful emotion. Instead, we will always be focusing on God and others first. That will bring us joy and contentment – and more forever friends to share God’s grace with for all eternity.

 

A Thankful Thought


The first thing that always comes to my mind is God's favor on me.

I, like billions of other people in this world, could have been born in a place that doesn't have the knowledge that Jesus even existed.

I, on the other hand, was born with the gift of Christian parents who taught me from the very beginning, that Jesus was the only hope for mankind. When I think on this one fact alone, I am always humbled and extremely thankful.

A NewSpring Staff Member


Your Comments

1

Stephanie Vap | January 05, 2010 at 06.53 am

Thank you so much for the verses & insightful thoughts!  The sentence “if we are completely full of God’s love for others, there won’t be any room for hatred, envy, discontentment, or any other sinful emotion.” is really helping me as I struggle with ill-feelings for a coworker. I am so excited to start the day with the hope that I may have a more positive interaction and feelings toward this person.
Thank you again!

2

amanda | January 05, 2010 at 07.03 am

I am so thankfull for this my day didn’t go great yesterday but god was more in focus than normally.  I can’t wait for this whole month i have learned so much already it’s like havingmark in my living room first thing in the morning.

3

Jodi | January 05, 2010 at 07.55 am

Wow! How awesome it has been to start my day with the Word! I, too, have been privileged in growing up in a home where I was taught that Jesus is the way. He is my center and my source! I have the opportunity to work with foreign students from all over the world, and each day I feel so much more honored to live in a country where I have the freedom to learn about and to serve our God. Most of these kids do not know Jesus Christ, and only walk into a church twice a year, on Christmas and Easter. Oh, how much more even those two days would mean to them if they knew Jesus as their Lord and Savior! My desire is to live my life in a way that would draw people to the Lord. I want people to see Jesus in me everyday, giving them a thirst to have the Jesus that I have. I thank God for the job that I have and pray for opportunities to unfold to share His love with people from all around the world.


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