Reading Philippians 1 and coughing

At our first Bible study together (Coffee at Angie's), we simply read Philippians 1 together. Nothing earth shattering. Just reading the Bible. It is amazing how the Bible can speak to you when you (cough cough) read it.

After Lunch at Angie's, I could usually duplicate the devotional here in my blog. But this would be much harder to do with the Bible study. Quote a passage...ramble a bit. Not terribly interesting in written form, sans community. So instead I'm going to share a single thought, perhaps one I didn't even share at our study.

In Philippians 1:4, Paul says, "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." Paul doesn't just think about his friends at Philippi. He prays for them. He says he is confident that God, "who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (v.6) Despite Paul's confidence that everything is going to be good for these people, he still prays for them.

Just as it is easy to skip actually (cough cough) reading the Bible, it is also easy to skip praying for people. Especially if we think things are going well for them. If we are the "pray regularly" sort, our prayers may sound like, "Oh, tra la la, bless these people." We bring out the big guns when we think someone is in danger or trouble of some sort. Then we are earnest.

But Paul, confident that his friends would mature and fulfill God's purposes, prayed for them. He prayed that their love would abound more and more (v.9). And not just an increasing love, but one that grows in knowledge and depth of insight. And not just growing in knowledge and depth of insight in a general sense, but in order that they would be able to discern God's best for them.

Wow, stop right there. How often have you been uncertain what is God's best for you? I want someone praying that for me! That I would grow in my love for Jesus, in my knowledge of Him and depth of insight. It seems kind of esoteric, not really a practical prayer, until Paul includes that "discern what is best" part (v.10).

Paul's prayers for people were deep. I often copy his words in Ephesians because the way he prays for believers gets at the heart of how we mature. It helps me to think on it. It helps us all to pull together when we ask God for the very things that are listed in the Word.

Let me loop back to something I said earlier: Paul's prayer seems all Jesus-y and spiritual. But really, the things he's asking are God's best for us. The prayer continues, "that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God" (v.10-11). None of us naturally want the glory and praise of God above all else. But I tell you, wanting Him is the best for us. If you've ever been through suffering and trials, the more you understand a hunger for His glory, the more you are sustained. The more He matters, the less stuff matters. Our lives should be focused on retraining our brain and our hearts to look like Him. To look at Him. To look for what we need from His hand.

To do that, it's probably good to (cough cough) read the Bible. And when you're concerned about things or thinking about your friends, it's probably good to (cough cough) pray.

And more than anyone, I'm probably (cough cough) talking to myself.