Bold to Speak
Read: Philippians 1:14-18; Acts 28:11-31 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (v. 14) The Christians living in Rome and Philippi needed courage. The ruling Caesar at the time, Nero, was known for his tyranny and obsession with popularity. […]
Prison Breakthroughs
Read: Philippians 1:12-18; 4:21-22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. (4:22) Yesterday we discovered the gospel penetrating the hardcore imperial guard of Rome. But that was just the beginning. Paul talks also about the new Christians who were part of Caesar’s household. That language refers to anyone living in the palace […]
Reaching Far for Christ
Read: Philippians 1:12-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 It has become known throughout the whole imperial guard . . . that my imprisonment is for Christ. (v. 13) The Roman imperial guard was an elite group of 9,000 soldiers who served as a special bodyguard for Caesar. Paul, as a prisoner under house arrest somewhere in or near Rome, was […]
The Things That Happen to Us
Read: Philippians 1:12-18 What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. (v. 12) Paul wrote the epistle of Philippians from Rome, where he was under house arrest: awaiting a trial that would determine his fate. To his Christian friends in Philippi, these circumstances were troubling. Why was this happening to Paul? Yet […]
Resisting the Affection of Christ Jesus
Read: Philippians 1:8-11; Hosea 11:1-9 I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (v. 8) Yesterday we were reminded that some find it difficult to embrace the affection of Jesus. Some of us believe that no one, let alone Jesus, could possibly love us. We believe this because of something we have done, […]
The Affection of Christ Jesus
Read: Philippians 1:8-11; Matthew 9:35-38 How I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (v. 8) Philip Yancey shares a brief story in his book What’s So Amazing About Grace? that struck a chord with me. He speaks of receiving a postcard in the mail from a friend on which were printed only […]
Truly Concerned about You
Read: Philippians 1:8-11 I hold you in my heart. . . . For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all. (vv. 7-8) Sociologists have a theory called “the looking-glass self.” The theory suggests that we become what the most important person in our lives—parent, spouse, child—thinks we are. We live up (or down) to that […]
Finishing What He Starts
Read: Philippians 1:6-10 He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. (v. 6) Paul is not rolling the dice when he writes these words. When he notes that he “is sure” of this, he literally means, “I am absolutely convinced, I am absolutely certain.” Certain of what? Certain that what God […]
Spiritual Partnerships
Read: Philippians 1:3-7; Acts 16:6-15 I thank my God . . . for your partnership in the gospel . . . for you are all partakers with me of grace. (vv. 3-7) What kind of a spiritual partner are you? Are you a silent or limited partner? Or are you all in? When Paul thanked his friends, one of the […]