Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Today, in the last of our Summer Inspiration series, let’s be inspired that God wants to work in us and through us in this new season.
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‘To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.’ (Philippians 1:1-6)
As we go into September, for many, it feels like a new beginning and new season. As we enter this new season, I want us to be full of faith that God is working in us and through us. Regardless of the state of the nation and nations, God’s purpose and ‘good work’ to extend His Kingdom is unhindered.
Today, as we end our reflections on Philippians 1:1-6, I thought that it would be important to consider that God has good work for us to be doing whilst we wait for His return.
Our text speaks, specifically, of their ‘partnership in the gospel from the first day until now’. Central to God’s work in them and through them was to create ‘partnership in the gospel’. Likewise, the Spirit wants to fill us so as to make us eager sharers of the gospel to our communities. The word ‘partnership’ (‘koinónia’) means partnership, fellowship sharing and devotion together. Do you see from our text Paul’s confidence that God was at work in them was, in great part, founded on seeing their partnership in the gospel? Love for the gospel is a very important sign that God is working in a person or church community. A church can be doing much social good, have great music and have a wonderful community etc. But if love for the gospel is not paramount, there’s something very wrong! If you are a Christian, you will love the gospel! If you are a Christian, God wants you to love it more, and partner more so as to help others to hear this most glorious good news; As He began a good work in you, so He wants to being a new work of salvation in other people and places.
Response
In response, God has begun and will complete His good work in us. A massive part of His good work in us is to make us partners in the gospel. God wants to work in us to make us a community who are taking the gospel to more people and communities as we wait for ‘The day of Christ’. So let’s be praying for our churches that, together, we would be led by the Spirit into new gospel-sharing opportunities and initiatives.
As we being this new season, let’s recommit ourselves to ‘partnership’ (Fellowship). If we’ve become slack in our church involvement, let the Spirit give you His passion for the church.
If circumstances in our nation or the world are getting on top of you and robbing you of joy and hope, let me remind you that God is at work in you and will bring it to completion!
Let me finish by reminding you that however bad your circumstances may seem to be, God is at work for the progress of the gospel; and may we be able to say with the imprisoned Paul,
‘Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.’ (Philippians 1:12)
Community group notes and study
Groups will begin again in the week beginning 16th September. If you do meet with your group, feel free to use any of the devotionals as a basis for your study.
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