3 I thank my God every time I think of you. 4 Whenever I pray for all of you I always pray with joy, 5 because you have shared in proclaiming the Good News from the very first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua. 7 It is right for me to think this way about you all, because I have you on my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and establishing the Good News, you are all sharing with me in this privileged work. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the deep affection of the Messiah Yeshua.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may more and more overflow in fullness of knowledge and depth of discernment, 10 so that you will be able to determine what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah — to the glory and praise of God.
[Complete Jewish Bible]Much of Advent is about waiting, preparing and anticipating the celebration of Christ's birth even while we wait, prepare and anticipate Christ's final glorious return. But how shall we wait? Paul might suggest we give thanks and pray.
In the first chapter of Philippians, Paul particularly addresses prayers of gratitude for his relationship with others who share the gospel. Today, I give thanks for Sunday school teachers and church choir directors; for those who visit prisoners and feed the homeless; and for those who proclaim Christ's death and resurrection in their daily acts of love.
As you wait, prepare and anticipate this Advent, for whom do you give thanks to God?
Ever-present God, as we wait this Advent, help us to be thankful. And in our gratitude, shape us to be mindful of your coming reign. Amen.
Adam Copeland
Director of Stewardship Leadership, Luther Seminary
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you,
4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,
5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight
10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,
11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.[New Revised Standard Version]
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