A Week With the PhilippiansExemplo

A Philippian believer: “Paul is in a much worse situation than we are - and yet he rejoices! He is in prison, again. I’m very thankful that I’m not in prison. But Paul says he is content, no matter what his situation. How can he say this? How can we have this contentment, too? 


“What a huge step it feels like for us to get to this place of contentment...and I’m not even in prison! It seems to me Paul’s contentment is independent of his circumstances. He’s in prison, yet he is not worried for himself because whether he lives or dies, he is certain of his eternal life with Jesus. 


“Paul says we Philippian believers are the only ones who gave him support after he shared the good news with us. I am so amazed Paul thanks us for looking after him when he needed help. Some people don’t think he is gracious, but this shows he is. He says he is amply supplied, and that our gifts are a fragrant offering! We were so happy to give to him and support his travels because of the amazing gift he gave us in the gospel! It is only because we have received grace from God that we have done this.”  


A few thoughts for us….  

1. If we are not content, what steps can we take to move towards contentment in God?   
2. Thank God for all who have given us ‘gifts’ – those who helped us to know Jesus and to grow in trust. Thank God for the gift others have given us, to understand us, our concerns, our anxieties, listening to us, praying for us, and caring for us practically and emotionally.    
3. If we don’t have people like this in our lives, what is a step we can take towards having some? How can we be this person to others?  

Prayer

Father, I thank you for caring for me in every way.Thank you for providing for me. Please help me to be content, in every situation. Please help me to be good a steward /manager of all you have given me. 
Please help me to be generous and gracious, as you are so amazingly generous and gracious to me.

Amen.