Philippians - Week 1 - Day 4

READ 

Philippians 1:7-8 

⁷So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians is called one of “The Prison Epistles” along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul’s tenderness for the Philippian believers is seen as he tells them they “have a special place” in his heart. These two verses reveal how Paul treasured their personal friendship. They had stood with him while he was in prison and “in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.” It was as if he could not adequately express his love for them so he said, “God knows how much I love you and long for you.”  

REFLECT 

Are there some about whom you feel the same as Paul felt for the Philippians? Are there others who think in the same way about you? 

RESPOND 

Although writing from imprisonment, one of Paul’s key themes in Philippians was the word “joy” and related words, such as “rejoice.” He had a strong confidence in the sovereignty of God to think this way. Read Galatians 5:22-23 and notice that “joy” is the second mentioned after “love” as the fruit of the Spirit.