We recently started a study series through the epistle of Philippians here at Cornerstone. Paul opens this letter with his customary greetings, reminding the readers of God’s amazing Grace and the Peace we have with Him through the action of this Grace, extended to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:1-5
Paul then goes on to detail, with thankfulness, the joy he was experiencing, even though he was in chains. The whole epistle is full of mentions of the Grace of God, the Joy and or Rejoicing that Paul was full of and the love that he had for his beloved fellow believers in Philippi. That thankful rejoicing was twofold – firstly for the undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour of God poured out upon him through Grace and secondly for the partnership, love and generosity that the Philippians had continued to extend to Paul from the first day he arrived in Philippi until the time of his writing this letter from prison in Rome
There are so many reasons for us to live joyful lives – God’s grace is all around us. May we come alongside other Christians to work in joyful fellowship with them to the Praise and Glory of God!