2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Our gifts to those who are in need of them are precious in God’s sight. In them both the giver and the receiver are blessed.
Philippians 4:18-20 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
To God, from whom a all good gifts come, all glory and honor belongs. Carla
Epaphroditus visit was a tangible expression of the Philippians’ concern for Paul and his needs. Paul’s needs were met through the Philippians’ generous financial gift. In the tradition of mutual exchange common to ancient friendship, Paul trusts God to meet the needs of the church at Philippi.
The Philippians don’t need to practice caution in giving. They are free to give, and in doing so they testify to God’s provision. If they keep what they have in order to provide for themselves, they won’t experience the generosity of God through the generosity of others.
The Greek term used here, doxa, for glory refers to God’s majesty and honor.
Amen expresses agreement about what has been said (Galatians 1:5). Faithlife Study Bible
By giving to Paul, the Philippians had offered themselves as a gift to God (Romans 12:1, 2). In verse 18 Paul says that he is full because they gave. In this verse he writes that God will supply all their needs. The Philippians, in turn, will be full because of the gifts God will give them. Out of His abundant wealth, God will more than amply take care of the Philippians.
The Jewish practice of closing prayers with the word amen carried over to the Christian church as well. When found at the end of a sentence as it is here, the word can be translated “so be it,” or “may it be fulfilled.” At the beginning of a sentence, it means “surely,” “truly,” or “most assuredly.” The NKJV Study Bible
Philippians 2:25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
Romans 11:36–12:1 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Galatians 1:4–5 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
We live in a world that can be cruel and merciless. And brutalizing.
And there are a heap plenty of people and systems to blame. (Although it is always some “other” people, and some “other” system.)
But the truth is that we wound one another.
We wound with real wars, and real bullets.
And we wound with words, with hatred and resentment.
And we wound with intolerance and small-mindedness (some of it in the name of “love” and God).
So. Let us pause.
And let us not forget Mother Teresa’s reminder, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
Well, if we do belong to one other, then “they”—the “least of these” and those without voices—are indeed, our children.
Ours to care for.
Ours to listen to.
Ours to see.
Let us take heart in the words of The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston. "We are not done yet. Not with building a fear-free world. Not with restoring dignity to every human being. Not with empowering people rather than imprisoning them. There is a great deal yet to do. We have lost ground in some areas and need to recapture the momentum of justice. We need to hold up the light of hope even higher. We are not done yet. However long it takes, however difficult it may be, we are determined to carry on until the shout of liberation fills the air. For us, community is not a pretense, but a promise: one that we intend to keep for all people. We are not done yet." “Sabbath Moments”
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Although circumstances may seem to be the source of our fear, in reality, fear comes from our fallen, sinful nature and our enemy, Satan.He is adept at using whatever means necessary to distract us from the goodness and power of God, and fear is one of his favorite tools.
But notice the lowercase "s" in "spirit not of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7). Now compare that "spirit" to the capital-S "Spirit" whom Jesus spoke of in John 14:17: "the Spirit of truth ... he dwells with you and will be in you." This Spirit is God Himself, and He never brings ungodly fear and timidity into our hearts!
Instead, according to today's key verse, His Spirit is the source of:
This includes courage, strength, and stability.
This means unconditional devotion to God and sharing His heart with others.
Self-control. This is holy self-discipline and clear thinking, even under pressure.
The Spirit of God, who has all power over the enemy, is not only with us but also in us. He resides in the heart of everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior (Ephesians 1:13). We have no reason to be fearful or timid when His Spirit is at home within us.
Whether we face an unexpected circumstance, a child in crisis, a difficult marriage, or a moment to step out and be bold for Christ, Satan wants us to fear the future. Instead, we can trust the One who holds our future. Our precious God will not only overcome our fears but also give us everything we need to live faithfully for Him (Romans 8:32). We just need to trust Him and stay close to His heart. First5
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