The Pursuit of Happiness Daily Devotional -36
by David Joynt on February 07, 2021
Get Real November 23 Devotional
November 23, 2024
PHILIPPIANS 4:10 | 10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-4 | 1 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; 2 for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, 4 begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—
The lack of Paul’s reference to his apostleship in the beginning of the letter, and the tone of his address to the members throughout suggests that Philippians is a missive aimed toward close friends. In fact, the ancient conventions had a kind of koinonia, or partnership, that included mutual service, mutual obligation, and reciprocal responsibility. Paul and the Philippian faith community were partners in the work of the gospel.
Paul implies this in 2 Corinthians, where he emphasizes the way a relatively poor Philippian congregation insisted on supporting his ministry in a number of other communities. Churches helping churches by helping leaders.
Do you have a sense of spiritual partnership with anyone?
How can you tell?
