THANKFUL FOR REMEMBRANCES (1)

“I THANK MY GOD upon EVERY REMEMBRANCE of you” – Philippians 1:3

Believers ought to be THANKFUL for REMEMBRANCES of God’s Goodness and His Gifts of Humanity: “I THANK MY GOD upon EVERY REMEMBRANCE of you” (Phi.1:3). As the year draws to an end, we should reflect and begin to say “Thank you” to God for His Goodness and the Gifts of Humanity – spouses, children, families, friends, colleagues, ministers, teachers, service-providers, and everyone whom God has privileged to extend hands of kindness and generosity to us over time. Let’s take inventory as we gather with family and friends, count our many blessings, and give thanks exuberantly.

The Book of Philippians is really a Thank You note. The Church at Philippi partnered with the Apostle Paul in his sharing the gospel, backing him financially and materially. He called attention to this practical generosity in the last chapter: “No other church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but only you. For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (Phi.4:15b-16). No other church had done this. Paul was grateful for this Church, and wrote this letter to thank, encourage, and spur them on to even greater works. 

This text is uniquely filled with reflections and remembrances. Whatever impression we make upon others, we will be remembered by them for better or worse. Paul remembered the Church at Philippi fondly. After the opening salutations, he promptly switched to remembrance mode: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (v.3). Paul, basically looked in three directions: Back – in his mind (vv.3-6); Within – in his heart (vv.7-8); and Ahead – in his prayers (vv.9-11). Our focus in today’s devotional is Thanksgiving on Looking Back!

As Paul looked back upon his years in Philippi, every single remembrance and every thought of them in his memory, caused him to thank God. Even so, affairs in Philippi were not always rosy! For example, in Acts 16, right after the heartwarming conversion of Lydia, Paul was tormented by a demon-possessed slave girl, harassed by a mob, arrested, stripped, beaten with rods in the public square, and thrown into prison. The church itself was perfectly united (Phi.4: 1-2). But as Paul looked back, he chose to remember the good: Those who had come to know Christ and growing in their faith – like Lydia and the Philippian jailer – and thanked God for them. With a high view of divine sovereignty, he knew that God was working through all things, the good and the bad, for the good of those who love Him (Rom.8: 28-29).

Despite the fact that he was writing from a Roman Prison, rather than accepting shame and scorn, Paul’s remembrance of the church led to joy-filled gratitude! He thanked God for their fellowship or partnership in the gospel (v.5), and for the continuing good work that the Lord had begun and would complete in them (v.6). May the Lord grant us great and joyful remembrances with families and friends, in Jesus’ Name.