Joyful Living Devotional - Day 40
Day 40 - A Glorious Promise to the Sower
Philippians 4:19-23 (NLT) 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. 21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household. 23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The Philippians stood by Paul and gave again and again to supply his needs. When they did not have the opportunity, they remained willing, and when the next opportunity arose, while Paul was in prison in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus with another gift and to help Paul with anything he might need. All this while they themselves were facing persecution, hardship, deep poverty, and challenges from Judaizers and idolaters.
Paul writes a letter of joy and gratitude, but he ends it by offering them something greater than any physical gift: the gift of pronouncing a blessing. As the Old Testament priest would speak a blessing over the Israelites, Paul speaks a blessing over the Philippians. The Lord told Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the Israelites.
Numbers 6:22-27 (NIV) 22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Notice again verse 27: “‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’” The blessing was to put God’s name on the Israelites; it is called identity. This blessing that is pronounced on you identifies you as mine. My people! Because you are Mine, I will bless you. The blessing has a two-fold application. They are the children of the Lord, and God blesses His children. Notice again what Paul writes: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT). The same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs. My God supplies for me and for you, Philippians. He is reminding them of God’s faithfulness while thanking them for theirs. Paul is telling them My God is your God, my Father is your Father, and He will bless you from His glorious riches.
You have taken care of my needs, and that is a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases the Lord. As you sow, Philippians, you will reap. I am just reminding you that just as the Old Testament priests placed God’s Name on the Israelites, I am invoking God’s blessing on you. I love how Paul says, “My God, your needs, God’s riches given to us, in Christ Jesus.” Giving brings our hearts together and reminds us that we are in this together and that our supply comes from our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Lord.
I have always wondered why giving and serving seem to be the two areas that have the greatest resistance. We can talk about studying the Bible, prayer, loving your neighbor, etc., and nobody questions the speaker's motives or gets upset. But talk about money and serving, and suddenly people get very defensive! Why? Both money and serving are things you can’t fake. You can’t pretend to give or pretend to serve. Money reveals what you love most, and serving reveals what you value most. You can tell people you pray, but no one really knows whether you do. You can tell people you read and study the Word, but no one will really know, except you! With giving, people will know whether you are generous or not, whether you tithe or not. You can’t fake what you spend your money on, and obviously, anyone can see if you serve. Therefore, we get defensive because what we love and what we prioritize are clearly on display!
Jesus said: “You cannot serve both God and money...” (Matthew 6:24 NIV). He also made it clear that His kingdom is built on service, and greatness in His kingdom can only come by serving others! This is where we become experts at making excuses. “I don’t give because I don’t make enough.” “I don’t tithe because it’s Old Testament...” “God knows my heart...” “I am too busy to serve.” “I will pray so I can find people to help serve.” “I do my serving at home.” “When things slow down, I will help.” If you truly don’t want to do something, any excuse will suffice.
“Remember this––you can’t serve God and Money, but you can serve God with money.”
– Selwyn Hughes
That’s why Paul tells the church in Philippi that their gift is a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God! I want to please my Father, even if it means making sacrifices. I want to be prayerful about how I spend my money and what I give my time and attention to. Giving and serving are not things I have to do; they are things I get to do. All we have, God gave us. Even the talents and skills we use to earn money are a gift from our Father! The fact that God allows us to be alive should spur us on to use our time for His glory.
“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”
– A.W. Tozer
Throughout the Book of Philippians, joy is evident. Two other things are evident as well. People helped Paul. They served with him in preaching the good news. He mentions several of them, including Euodia and Syntyche, the two women who were fighting. He also mentions Clement and Epaphroditus, who served to the point of exhaustion and almost to the point of death. Throughout Philippians, we have seen that Paul writes about us having the same mind or attitude as Jesus. Jesus is our greatest example of serving; He took the lowest position and gave the greatest gift: His life, the ultimate sacrifice.
If you truly want to experience God’s amazing, unending, overflowing joy, generosity and service are nonnegotiable. You cannot grow your faith without becoming a giver and a servant. Philippians 3:19 (NLT) applies only to those willing to be generous like the Philippian church: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley
When will you make Jesus Lord of your bank account? When will you make Jesus Lord of your calendar? The day you do, you will find He is more than able to multiply your seed, provide for all you need, and redeem the time! What are you waiting for?
Acts 20:35b (NLT) You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for instilling a generous mindset in me. I believe that as I sow, I will reap a generous harvest that will result in thanksgiving. Lord, I want to use my resources and time to build Your kingdom; reveal the right opportunities to me. Everything I have, I received from You, and I can only give to You what is already Yours! Help me faithfully manage all that passes through my hands. Let Your kingdom purposes be my primary concern. I trust You to establish my family in faith as I build Your House. Help my fellow believers. Give us a heart to serve, even when there is no immediate reward. Remind all of us that we serve You when we serve others. Jesus, help me follow the example You set in giving and serving! Remind me when I grow tired and weary that You give grace to the humble and strength to the weak. Lord, thank You that what You started in me, You will finish! Let revival flood this city, this state, this nation, and our world! All the glory, all the honor, and all the praise belong to You... I pray all of this in the Name above every other name, the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!”
Philippians 4:19-23 (NLT) 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. 21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household. 23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The Philippians stood by Paul and gave again and again to supply his needs. When they did not have the opportunity, they remained willing, and when the next opportunity arose, while Paul was in prison in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus with another gift and to help Paul with anything he might need. All this while they themselves were facing persecution, hardship, deep poverty, and challenges from Judaizers and idolaters.
Paul writes a letter of joy and gratitude, but he ends it by offering them something greater than any physical gift: the gift of pronouncing a blessing. As the Old Testament priest would speak a blessing over the Israelites, Paul speaks a blessing over the Philippians. The Lord told Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the Israelites.
Numbers 6:22-27 (NIV) 22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Notice again verse 27: “‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’” The blessing was to put God’s name on the Israelites; it is called identity. This blessing that is pronounced on you identifies you as mine. My people! Because you are Mine, I will bless you. The blessing has a two-fold application. They are the children of the Lord, and God blesses His children. Notice again what Paul writes: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT). The same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs. My God supplies for me and for you, Philippians. He is reminding them of God’s faithfulness while thanking them for theirs. Paul is telling them My God is your God, my Father is your Father, and He will bless you from His glorious riches.
You have taken care of my needs, and that is a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases the Lord. As you sow, Philippians, you will reap. I am just reminding you that just as the Old Testament priests placed God’s Name on the Israelites, I am invoking God’s blessing on you. I love how Paul says, “My God, your needs, God’s riches given to us, in Christ Jesus.” Giving brings our hearts together and reminds us that we are in this together and that our supply comes from our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Lord.
I have always wondered why giving and serving seem to be the two areas that have the greatest resistance. We can talk about studying the Bible, prayer, loving your neighbor, etc., and nobody questions the speaker's motives or gets upset. But talk about money and serving, and suddenly people get very defensive! Why? Both money and serving are things you can’t fake. You can’t pretend to give or pretend to serve. Money reveals what you love most, and serving reveals what you value most. You can tell people you pray, but no one really knows whether you do. You can tell people you read and study the Word, but no one will really know, except you! With giving, people will know whether you are generous or not, whether you tithe or not. You can’t fake what you spend your money on, and obviously, anyone can see if you serve. Therefore, we get defensive because what we love and what we prioritize are clearly on display!
Jesus said: “You cannot serve both God and money...” (Matthew 6:24 NIV). He also made it clear that His kingdom is built on service, and greatness in His kingdom can only come by serving others! This is where we become experts at making excuses. “I don’t give because I don’t make enough.” “I don’t tithe because it’s Old Testament...” “God knows my heart...” “I am too busy to serve.” “I will pray so I can find people to help serve.” “I do my serving at home.” “When things slow down, I will help.” If you truly don’t want to do something, any excuse will suffice.
“Remember this––you can’t serve God and Money, but you can serve God with money.”
– Selwyn Hughes
That’s why Paul tells the church in Philippi that their gift is a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God! I want to please my Father, even if it means making sacrifices. I want to be prayerful about how I spend my money and what I give my time and attention to. Giving and serving are not things I have to do; they are things I get to do. All we have, God gave us. Even the talents and skills we use to earn money are a gift from our Father! The fact that God allows us to be alive should spur us on to use our time for His glory.
“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”
– A.W. Tozer
Throughout the Book of Philippians, joy is evident. Two other things are evident as well. People helped Paul. They served with him in preaching the good news. He mentions several of them, including Euodia and Syntyche, the two women who were fighting. He also mentions Clement and Epaphroditus, who served to the point of exhaustion and almost to the point of death. Throughout Philippians, we have seen that Paul writes about us having the same mind or attitude as Jesus. Jesus is our greatest example of serving; He took the lowest position and gave the greatest gift: His life, the ultimate sacrifice.
If you truly want to experience God’s amazing, unending, overflowing joy, generosity and service are nonnegotiable. You cannot grow your faith without becoming a giver and a servant. Philippians 3:19 (NLT) applies only to those willing to be generous like the Philippian church: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley
When will you make Jesus Lord of your bank account? When will you make Jesus Lord of your calendar? The day you do, you will find He is more than able to multiply your seed, provide for all you need, and redeem the time! What are you waiting for?
Acts 20:35b (NLT) You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for instilling a generous mindset in me. I believe that as I sow, I will reap a generous harvest that will result in thanksgiving. Lord, I want to use my resources and time to build Your kingdom; reveal the right opportunities to me. Everything I have, I received from You, and I can only give to You what is already Yours! Help me faithfully manage all that passes through my hands. Let Your kingdom purposes be my primary concern. I trust You to establish my family in faith as I build Your House. Help my fellow believers. Give us a heart to serve, even when there is no immediate reward. Remind all of us that we serve You when we serve others. Jesus, help me follow the example You set in giving and serving! Remind me when I grow tired and weary that You give grace to the humble and strength to the weak. Lord, thank You that what You started in me, You will finish! Let revival flood this city, this state, this nation, and our world! All the glory, all the honor, and all the praise belong to You... I pray all of this in the Name above every other name, the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!”
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional