Bible League: Living His Word And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Earlier in his letter the Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi that he was rejoicing greatly because they had revived their concern for his material well-being. He told them that although he had learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need, and although he had learned how to do all things through Christ who strengthens him, he was still grateful for their support (Philippians 4:10-13). Paul was thankful that by supporting him, the church had shared with him and fellowshipped with him in all his troubles on the mission field. The Philippian church was the only church that had supplied Paul's needs when he had left Macedonia, and they had supplied his needs time and again when he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:14-16). Obviously, the church at Philippi was a church that gave freely of their resources and Paul was thankful for their continuing help. Paul did not regard the Philippian church as only donors and supporters of his missionary endeavors, however, but as full-fledged partners in the spread of the gospel. As partners, Paul was not primarily seeking gifts of support for the ministry from them, but was primarily seeking "the fruit that increases to your credit" (Philippians 4:17). That is, Paul was not primarily seeking the gifts he received from them, but primarily the benefit they would receive for having supported him. Perhaps Paul was thinking of the Old Testament story of the widow of Zarephath in I Kings 17 and the story of the wealthy Shunammite woman in II Kings 4, both of whom had supported prophets and had received benefits for doing so. Paul was less concerned with his own needs than he was with the benefit the Philippian church would receive. It is in this context that our verse for today is found. Paul is saying to the Philippian church that God will supply their every need because they have partnered with him and supported him in the spread of the gospel. Not everyone is called to go out on the mission field or to pastor a church, but everyone can partner with those who do and support them in the ministry. Paul's message is that we can expect to be blessed for having done so. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 6, 7 1 Chronicles 6 -- Descendants of Levi; The Temple Musicians NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 7 -- Descendants from Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 8:21-36 John 8 -- The Woman Caught in Adultery; Jesus the Light of the World; The truth will set you free NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. Insight “I am God and not a mere mortal.” It is easy for us to define God in terms of our own expectations and behavior. In so doing, we make him just slightly larger than ourselves. In reality, God is infinitely greater than we are. Challenge We should seek to become like him rather than attempting to remake him in our image. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 1:16 Behold, thou art fair, my Beloved.From every point our Well-beloved is most fair. Our various experiences are meant by our heavenly Father to furnish fresh standpoints from which we may view the loveliness of Jesus; how amiable are our trials when they carry us aloft where we may gain clearer views of Jesus than ordinary life could afford us! We have seen him from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, and he has shone upon us as the sun in his strength; but we have seen him also "from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards," and he has lost none of his loveliness. From the languishing of a sick bed, from the borders of the grave, have we turned our eyes to our soul's spouse, and he has never been otherwise than "all fair." Many of his saints have looked upon him from the gloom of dungeons, and from the red flames of the stake, yet have they never uttered an ill word of him, but have died extolling his surpassing charms. Oh, noble and pleasant employment to be forever gazing at our sweet Lord Jesus! Is it not unspeakably delightful to view the Saviour in all his offices, and to perceive him matchless in each?--to shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh combinations of peerless graces? In the manger and in eternity, on the cross and on his throne, in the garden and in his kingdom, among thieves or in the midst of cherubim, he is everywhere "altogether lovely." Examine carefully every little act of his life, and every trait of his character, and he is as lovely in the minute as in the majestic. Judge him as you will, you cannot censure; weigh him as you please, and he will not be found wanting. Eternity shall not discover the shadow of a spot in our Beloved, but rather, as ages revolve, his hidden glories shall shine forth with yet more inconceivable splendour, and his unutterable loveliness shall more and more ravish all celestial minds. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Romans 8:26,27 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; • and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Psalm 103:14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Psalm 23:1,2 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. • He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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