21 Nov December 1st Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL  

Philippians 1:3-5 “ 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 . . . “

The word partner means that you are engaged together with one or more other individuals in an endeavor.  This word is most often associated with two or more individuals who form a business, each partner contributing to the profit of the business they create.  Google says that eighty per cent of all businesses are partnerships.

St. Paul, in today’s devotional verse, speaks of a partnership of the Philippian Christians and himself.  They were not partners in a business.  Their partnership was in the gospel.  They endeavored to celebrate the gospel among themselves and spread it into the world.

Acts 2:42ff describes what this partnership looks like:  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Peter encourages those who are in this Christian partnership, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) This love flows from the love each in this partnership has received from Jesus, “. . . love one another deeply, from the heart.” (John 13:34)  Galatians 5:13 exhorts all in this partnership, “. . . by love serve one another.”

Prayer:  Lord, bless me and all my fellow believers in our gospel partnership.  In Your holy name.  Amen.

Blest be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

Our comforts and our prayers.

We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear,

And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

When here our pathways part, We suffer bitter pain;

Yet, one in Christ and one in heart, We hope to meet again.

From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free

And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.

(LSB 649)