Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 6
Family Discussions for a New School Year
[It only takes 6 min. to read this aloud!]
*This is DAY 6. For a list of previous days, click here.
DAY 6/TUESDAY
Philippians 1:3-6
Thank God for You
“I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
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,
being confident of this,
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.”
How Thankful Is My Heart?
What would it look like to live life with a thankful heart? I mean, a heart that is in thankful mode all the time, not just sometimes, or most of the time… -ish.
In the verses above, Paul says he thanks God every time he remembers the Philippian believers. Every time.
If you do a quick search for “thank” in the New Testament, you see that Paul was regularly giving thanks for his fellow believers.
Paul thanked God for people… a lot.
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”
Romans 1:8 (NIV)
Paul was thankful for all the believers in Rome. Why? Their faith was being reported all over the world.
“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
I Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)
For the Corinthian church members, Paul always thanked God because of God’s grace given them in Christ.
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”
Ephesians 1:15-16 (NIV)
Paul’s thanks for the Ephesian Christians never stopped! Since when? Since he heard about their faith in Jesus and their love for all God’s people.
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—”
Colossians 1:3-4 (NIV)
Similarly, Paul & Timothy always thanked God when they prayed for the Colossian believers because of their faith & love.
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)
Paul, Silas (a fellow missionary), & Timothy always thanked God for all the members of the Thessalonian church, noting their work of faith, labor of love, and endurance by hope.
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
II Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)
In II Thessalonians, Paul, Silas, & Timothy change it up a little and say that thanking God for their “brothers and sisters loved by the Lord” is something they ought always do. Why? God chose the Thessalonians “to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
“To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”
II Timothy 1:2-3 (NIV)
Now Paul is writing to Timothy and letting him know that he (Paul) thanks God as night and day he constantly remembers Timothy in his prayers.
“To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all His holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.”
Philemon 1,2-4 (NIV)
When writing to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and their home church, Paul wants them to know that he always thanks God as he prays for them. Why? Paul hears about their love & faith.
Always Thanking God for All Believers in Our Prayers
This seems intimidating!
- always
- thanking God
- for all believers
- in our prayers
And yet, it is clearly a part of God’s will for us:
“Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
When I read Philippians 1:3-6 this morning, an idea popped into my head. So-o-o-o simple. I mean, super simple. Why not say, audibly or in my head, “Thank You, God, for him!” or “Thank You, God, for her!” every time someone comes to mind?
Here’s what I wrote in my journal: “I know this is not a quick fix for a heart that could be more thankful, but it’s a start. I often get distracted from being thankful for others by every silly thing under the sun!”
Not just thankful for believers
Believers get priority, but Paul does not leave out the lost.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
I Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV)
One of my children prays “Thank you for everybody in this world” as part of every prayer. It didn’t dawn on me until recently rereading I Timothy 2:1 that this is definitely a biblical thing to pray!
Why does Paul urge Timothy and other believers to make petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercession (prayers for others), and thanksgiving for all people? Two main reasons: 1) That believers may live peaceful & quiet lives in all godliness & holiness; 2) To please God our Savior who wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
DAY 6/TUESDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for our brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. Thank You for all the people in the world, for You have created each & every one of them in Your image.
Lord, grow & mature our hearts into hearts that are truly thankful for others — including our family.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
DAY 6: Paul thanked God for people all the time. Though he was especially thankful for believers in Christ, he urged us to also pray and be thankful for unbelievers.