BOUND IN CHAINS, BUT ABOUNDING IN LOVE

Philippians 1:1-11 / Keywords 1:9

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

 

1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

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, 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.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, 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 for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Footnotes

a. Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

1. Apostle Paul was surprisingly full of joy. No matter what hardship he was under, he abided in the grace of God. Paul starts his letter with thanksgiving for the church in Philippi. He was confident that the seed of the Gospel planted in the hearts of them who received it would continue to grow and bear fruit. Paul knew that even though he was not with them in body, he could entrust them to God's grace and encourage them with his loving words.

 

2. I love how Paul mentions the affection of Christ Jesus. Jesus described his own love as a hen that longs to gathers her chicks under her wings (Mt 23:37). Paul’s prayer was that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Love grows when we make a decision to practice loving others. May we seek to understand rather than judge, show compassion rather than indifference, and show tenderness rather than harsh criticism. We can only love when we accept God's unconditional love for who we are, no matter where we came from and what mistakes we've made along the way. God's grace extends to all who receive it with faith.

 

Prayer Lord, help my joy and love be bound not by circumstance but by the wellspring of your love for me that extends to all who receive it with faith.

One Word Abound in love