The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 10 May 2024
TOPIC: Fellowship in Christ
TEXT: Philippians 1: 1-11(AMP)
1:1. PAUL AND Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God’s consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):
1:2. Grace (favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
1:3. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.
1:4. In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight).
1:5. [I thank my God] for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.
1:6. And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
1:7. It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, because you have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing). [This is true] both when I am shut up in prison and when I am out in the defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).
1:8. For God is my witness how I long for and pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus [Himself]!
1:9. And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],
1:10. So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].
1:11. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].
Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 10 May 2024 STUDY:
The Merriam Webster English Dictionary defines communion as an act of sharing, or intimate fellowship or rapport. Paul the Apostle clearly reveals the kind of relationship between him and the Church in Philippi. He remembered them always and prayed for them with joy. He had them at heart and enjoyed unbroken fellowship with them.
The Church is also actively part of the life and ministry of Paul, sharing in his chains. Apart from supporting his testimonies of intimacy with the Church with the fact that God is a witness, he also demonstrated this in his prayer in verses 9-11.
Living in an intimate fellowship in the body of Christ encourages growth with less effort (Acts 2: 44-47). Church leaders at all levels are expected to live and encourage unity among members of the body, and the people themselves must reciprocate their leaders’ actions. The intimate fellowship that exists between Jesus and His disciples should be a model for the Church.
Intimate fellowship is one of the messages we deduce at the institution of the Holy Eucharist and living in intimate fellowship helps us share in one another’s successes and challenges. Intimate communion sustains the Church and keeps it growing. “Bear one another’s burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ“ (Gal. 6:2).
PRAYER:
Does your local Church, fellowship or family share in the blessings and pains ofher members
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: God says “My Son took upon Himself all your sicknesses and diseases. Matthew 8:16-17”
