Gratitude for Others

Our lives are full of memories - some good, some bad, some indifferent and some horrifying - regardless of the type they are still there and they are important but should not stagnation;

Sadly, for many, the memories that roam their mind hallways lean towards the negative - negative;

Now this “Remembrance” can cause many challenges in our response to life and yes even Christ;

Many people feel they will never be “good enough” for the grace that God is willing to gift because of their memories;

Philippians–Colossians Vers. 3–11

Memory plays an important part in secular, religious, and national life. It influences the present and casts its shadow on the future.

Here we find Paul, the founder of the Church at Philippi, with a different type of memory - one of gratitude and pleasure;

The Church of Philippi not only embraced the teaching of the gospel but lived it out in such an exuberant manner;

But what does exuberant mean - ADJECTIVE: filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.

The Church of Philippi was excited to show Christ to world around them because of His grace not because they were worthy;

Paul is thanking God their response to the gospel and we should look to them as an example;

Philippians–Colossians Vers. 3–11

If we, at any time, are cold or despondent, let us open the chronicles of the Churches of our early days, gather around us the warm hearts which cheered us then, and though dead they will speak to us words of life and encouragement.

How are you responding to the joy of God’s grace?

Prayer

Who do you pray for - about - because of their growth and faithfulness to Christ;

Most of the time when we pray for someone it is because of sorrow in their life and not the celebration of their faithfulness;

Paul is approaching God with joy - not of his accomplishments - but the faithful joy of the Church of Philippi;

Philippians–Colossians Vers. 3–11

There is that in our life which lends sorrow to prayer. Much of this, however, is wrong—lamentation over pardoned sins, &c. We are under an obligation to approach the throne of grace with joy.

How do you more often approach God’s throne for others with sorrow or joy;

Philippians–Colossians Vers. 3–11

Paul’s heart was bound up with the interests of the Church. At Philippi there was everything to evoke spiritual joy. Paul, therefore, joyfully prayed for a larger blessing.

Notice, while the “church” is the individual (1 Corinthians 3:9) Paul seems to thankful for the “church” corporately for being single focused;

Paul was confident that what started of day one would continue until the last day which was even more cause for joy in his prayers for them;

Now I am sure there were issues and disagreements in the Church of Philippi yet they never lost focus of the purpose - to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14-15);

Philippians–Colossians Vers. 3–11

If we narrow our field of observation every Christian must feel thankful for his new heart. If the glory of creation, the goodness of providence, excites gratitude, much more this the chiefest of God’s works. Let us supplicate its further perfection. (Weekly Pulpit.)

Prayer is more than just requests it is a response of grace and can be a form of gratitude and worship;

Nathan Foster writes, “Gratitude brought me to the ability to collapse into God’s providence, and so with a playful smile I relinquished—‘Oh you just do what you want with this situation and I’ll say thank you’” (editorial note to Richard J. Foster, “Thank You, Daddy,” Evangelical Friend, November 1977, reprinted in Renovaré, https://renovare.org/articles/thank-you-daddy).

What can you thank God for today with joy and worship?

Application Point: We will be thankful for God’s continued work in our lives.

The Cross

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