Philippians 1:1-11/ Wedding realizations

Philippians 1:1-11

After reading this passage, I've been challenged to ask God to shape my heart to pray for the church in the way that Paul did (with joy not bc it’s conditional how the church serves me but purely bc that these people have also been partakers of grace)

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in EVERY prayer of mind for you al making my prayer with joy BECAUSEEEE of your partnership in the gospel .... For you are all partakers with me of grace.... and confirmation of the gospel“ Again, my love and my joy for praying for the church does not depend on what I am receiving, how accepted I feel, how much I feel important, because actually those in it of itself are actually impure thoughts and desires because in essence, it is trying to make much of myself instead of God. It's so crazy, the depths of community that Paul shows us just in his prayer for them. It's not like he dismisses that they are sinners and flawed and I mean they ain't no 1 Corinthians church, but if you read further, Paul exhorts them in different areas. But his prayer starts with thankfulness for them and it is because 1. Their partnership in the gospel 2. They are partakers of grace --> both of these lead to Paul saying that this 3. Confirms the gospel. When you see people gathered at church, it is a clear display that the power of the Gospel and the love of Christ is alive and active. Praise be to the glory of God.

From the wedding ceremony:

"Wives submit to your husband as the church to Christ"

I was like I think practicing to be a good wife is to learn to submit and persevere with church even admits it’s imperfections and shortcomings. Bc marriage is just that- learning to love and commit even when you see someone else’s flaws and shortcomings.