MAKING REQUEST WITH JOY

It is noticeable how well the Apostle knows his God. He is able to speak of God as ‘my God’, and the closeness of this relationship is seen again in chapter 4 verse 19. It is surely every believer’s objective to know God for himself in an increasing way. Paul’s intimacy with his God never manifested itself in over familiarity. His forms of approach in the prayers of the epistles are always in ways of utmost respect and befitting reverence. The greater our appreciation of God’s greatness, His grandeur, and His glory; the greater should be our attitude of reverence and awe.

This prayer, direct to God, is for all the saints, v. 4. There was obviously a problem in Philippi, 4. 2. However, we see the wisdom of Paul, who is constantly concerned with the unity and harmony of the assembly. He writes to them all, v. 1; he prays for them all, v. 4; he thinks of them all, v. 7; he longs after them all, v. 8; desiring eventually to joy and rejoice with them all, 2. 17. This great intercessor embraces all saints in his daily care for all the churches, 2 Cor. 11. 28. May our prayer lives mirror that of Paul in showing no partiality. We should not only pray for those who agree with us, but also ‘pray for them which despitefully use you’, Luke 6. 28.

The Apostle indicates that when engaged in prayer for the assembly, he is moved to thanksgiving on every occasion as he brings them to mind and to God. Thanksgiving should be an essential ingredient of every prayer, Phil. 4. 6.

It is a good principle to commend what is praiseworthy, and in this prayer, Paul commends the Philippians for their continuous fellowship in the gospel, v. 5. The Revised Version margin gives an alternative reading for verse 7 as, ‘ye have me in your heart’, in which case the Apostle is praising them also for their love and large heartedness towards him.

The Apostle is confident that God who began a good work in them will continue to work in them until the day of Jesus Christ. Then faith will give place to sight, for we shall be with Him, and be like Him, for evermore.