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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. (Philippians 1:3-11 NRSV)
Happy and blessed Tuesday for you and yours, dear Reader. I ask for continued prayers for the family of Rev. Francisco Gaytan, who passed away this morning (Monday) at 2:14 a.m. Pray for Gods traveling mercies for his family members who will be traveling to be with each other at the funeral. Prayers for this old man as I have been asked to officiate at his funeral. Prayers for those in need, for those who feel stressed even to the point of breaking; for those who face financial burdens, and for those whose time with family during the holidays is more troublesome than calming. Pray for one another. Pray for your needs.
As we journey through Advent, we find that in this passage, Paul is reminding us that prayer is a key part of preparation and awaiting the arrival of that for which we prepare to receive. Prayer is very much a part of the equipping work for any disciple. If we fail to pray, we end up failing. And if we pray without feelings, like joy, we're not living up to the reality of God's presence in our prayers and in our lives. Paul, in spite of all the dangers he faced, he prayed with joy and gratitude for those like-minded believers who supported his work by sharing the good news of Jesus; and Paul affirms their efforts by saying a famous verse, "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," which was a reference to Christ's promised second coming. It is Paul encouraging those who may think that their efforts seem in vain; but he says, Jesus is coming back and when He returns, He will complete the work that He started among us. And another essential part of Advent is to increase our love for each other, for others, for those who need love, and to increase a proper self-love for us. A Christian's love should be an overflowing love, not a trickle or a drip, drip sort of love. The love that comes to us from God is like that which comes from Niagra Falls, and for us to hold on to that love and withhold it from others, is not justice nor very Christ-like. Overflowing love is one that is fueled by knowledge and fulll insight; which helps us to determine what is best and helps prepare us so that on that day when Christ appears again, we may stand pure and blameless, because that overflowing love has helped produce a harvest of righteousness that we have received from Jesus Christ; and all for the honor and glory of God.
Many of us had an Advent of sorts as we prepared for Thanksgiving. Trips to the store for the proper foods we wanted to serve; housecleaning chores, the right place settings, and a million and one other tasks that most undertook with some stress, but most undertook all tasks with love and gratitude; thankful for family, prayers for safe travel; then the waiting. When the moment arrives and the hugs and kisses begin, everything was well worth the effort and stress. When gathered around the table, news and updates were shared and the people gathered together truly became family once again, and the common goal of family was stressed; stay together, pray together, and work together for the common good of the family. In the same way, Paul is stressing that for God's familly, and one day it will all make sense.
PRAYER: Loving Father, hold and strengthen Your family. May we bound together in prayer, work, and devotion to You, to each other, and to those who have not yet heard or believed. Make us more loving, the kind of love that overflows in all directions to all people, without conditions or reservations. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Share hope and love to all in great joy.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
