Devotion • September 7
Today’s Scripture Reading
Philippians 2:13–30
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you — and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon. Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus — my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me. (NRSV)
Reflection
Although the similes and metaphors Paul uses in the early portion of this passage might be challenging and even opaque to many of us, the spirit behind them is rooted in the preceding verses praising Christ’s humility and obedience to God’s call. Paul is challenging the Philippians to emulate Jesus in their daily living, trusting that “God is at work in [them], enabling [them] both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure” and promising them they will soon be visited by two of Paul’s closest friends and allies.
In the midst of this challenge and promise, though, is another theme almost hiding in plain sight. Paul uses the words rejoice four times and joy once in this passage. In fact, those two words appear a total of sixteen times in Paul’s short letter to the Philippians! This spirit of joy may seem completely at odds with the challenge he has just issued to them — even more incongruous since Paul is writing this letter from prison! — but that is precisely Paul’s point. Whatever challenges lie before us, we should rejoice in all the gifts God has given us — and that joy can help to carry us.
Following God’s call in our lives can be challenging and even thankless at times, but what animates us is not a desire for praise or self-benefit (see Philippians 2:3–4). Instead, we best serve God and others when what we do is grounded in a sense of true joy and gratitude for the gifts of our lives. So may we, like the Philippians, rejoice and be glad — giving God thanks for the gift of a new day!
Prayer
Awaken me to the gift of this new day, O God, and all the potential and possibility it holds. In gratitude to you, guide my hands and heart that I might better serve you and your people. Amen.
Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor Children and Family Ministry
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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