For Us Through Us
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6
I just recently returned from my first international trip since the beginning of the pandemic. It was great to see our partners in person! I spent a week bumping around some very rough roads in Malawi as I visited students and schools that are a part of our sponsorship program. I visited schools where students who have come through our program and graduated from college are now teaching math and English. I saw one school that now has a computer lab and two schools that have lights for the first time ever, both because of solar power. I saw people drawing clean water because of a borehole that was funded by a family from Peachtree. At every stop on those bumpy roads, I saw the results of your partnership. I saw people that you will never meet living a different life because of your generosity.
Paul began his letter to the Philippian church, as he often did, by expressing his thanksgiving for the support of his friends. He knew that the work of the gospel was not an individual endeavor but something that happened because the body of Christ worked together. Its success was dependent on the participation, in some way, of everyone. Each and every part of the body of Christ played a role in spreading the gospel to His world in the first century.
I share Paul’s sentiment of joy because I know that lives are being changed on the other side of the world because of your generosity. So this week let us be thankful not just for what God has done for us but also for what he has done through us!
For Reflection
What brings you joy as you think about thankfulness in this season?
What do you sense God is doing through you for the sake of the gospel?
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your grace and for all of the ways You have blessed our lives. We also thank You for the ways You have used us to bless others. Lord, we ask that You will continue to help us see ways we can bring joy and hope to others in this season of thanksgiving. Amen.