“Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me” (Philippians 2:29-30).

Sometimes we want the head person.  We want what we want.  A part of what the Lord does is to teach us humility.  If the Lord is taking care of it, then the Lord is taking care of it.  Why do you worry about who is doing whatever is done.  Whether it is the janitor or the pastor, are they both not a part of the team?  There is One Lord and one body, which is the church.  Give thanks for the One Lord.

Lord, You know the struggles that go on everywhere.  Lead me, O Lord, away from the way the world does things so that I may give and receive as You direct.  You know what needs to change.  You know that unless You keep us from our sinful choices, we would perish.  Complete me according to Your plan of salvation so that I may humbly walk with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior.  There is no salvation apart from You.  Guide me, Lord, that I may walk now and forever in the goodness of Your love and mercy.  Help me this day to see Your hand at work.  Help me to be Your hand where needed.  In and through all things, may I be lifted into Your salvation and walk according to the Father’s will.  Complete in me all that needs to be completed.

“Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you” (Philippians 2:28).

There are people who are praying for you.  There are those whom the Lord lifts up who pray for the various fellowships that they may prosper and not fall into the snares of the wicked one.  Cherish those who care for you.  Be one who cares for others.  There is only one church, just as there is only One Lord.  Give and receive as the Lord gives, so receive that You may walk in His way.

Lord, I often act as though what I think and want is all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may follow where You lead, go where You send me and receive whom You send to me.  This is Your church, not mine.  You are the head and we are the body.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk behind You following wherever You bring me.  Help me to be one for whom You need to be less concerned.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  Your Word has promised that it will all work together for good.  Set me on the path You would have me walk in order that I may be obedient and live according to Your direction.  In and through all things, guide me, O Lord, in order that I may be found faithful.  Where I need to be an encouragement, help me to encourage.  Where I need to be encouraged, help me to listen.  Amen.

“For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow” (Philippians 2:27).

It is good to care for those whom you know.  It is good to pray for those in need, but do not make demands in your prayers.  In all things, watch and see the hand of the Lord at work.  Through your prayer, the Lord will grant His grace and mercy according to His will.  Be content that the Lord has called you.  Abide in Him and He in you, for this is as He has told us it must be.  He is Lord and we are His creatures.

Lord, You know all that is needed.  You heal when You heal and bring home when You bring home those who are Yours.  Help me to learn to not be conditional in my faith, but recognize that You are Lord of all.  In and through all things, You have shone the light of Your glory that those who see may come in Your grace and mercy and abide with You unto eternal life.  Open the eyes of those around me to see.

Lord, You have opened my eyes so that I may see Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may humbly walk with You today.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace so that I would not seek to control but know that You are in control of all things.  Abide with me in those moments of trouble, enabling me to be led by You throughout the day to seek You alone, always, and for all things.  Amen.

“But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick” (Philippians 2:25-26).

What do you hear?  Is all that you hear true?  Keep your eyes upon Jesus and what He is doing.  Uplift the saints, but do not listen to the idle talk that goes around.  Yes, this is hard, for we react to news, but if Your heart is upon the Lord, you will know that all things are always in His hands.  The Lord will send whom He will send and we do well to learn to listen and receive, giving thanks to the Lord in all things.

Lord, what would You have me do?  I hear so many things, but half of what I hear is wrapped up in speculation.  Guide me Lord so that I keep my eyes upon You and not be caught up in idle speculation.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your purpose so that I would now and always humbly abide in the goodness of Your mercy.  In You, Lord, is there hope.  In You is all truth.

Lord, as You have called me, so also, You send me.  I am Your worker in the field.  Send me this day and help me to serve others as You have served me.  If I hear idle things, close my ears so that I would not become excited over things I know nothing about.  Through all things, lead me according to Your grace and mercy so that I may be approved in Your sight.  Work through me today, Lord.  Amen.

“Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly” (Philippians 2:23-24)

Paul desired to impart the Gospel to those who would receive it.  Impart and not just talk about it.  There is something very real which is given in the Gospel.  It is not just an idea, but the power of God unleashed amidst the thoughts and ideas of this world.  You have heard, but have you believed?  You have received, but is the truth alive and active in You?  These are the things Paul is talking about.

Lord, help me to understand these things.  Yes, they are a mystery, but it is what You say in Your Word.  Guide me into deeper understanding so that I may begin to grasp the reality of mysteries You share through Your Word and through those whom You send who speak Your word.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy always.  Help me receive the truth that I may always walk with You.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have revealed the light and life that is present through You in this world.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I may now and always listen and learn as You would have me listen and learn.  Guide me to walk where You would have me walk.  Take away from me the desire to follow my own heart and teach me how to follow You.  In all things, help me to see that You are with me.  Amen.

“But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father” (Philippians 2:22)

Will you receive those whom the Lord sends?  In our day we want credentials, but if one is sent of the Lord, will you receive him as the world teaches you, or as one sent by the Lord?  Many an angel has been passed by unaware because they will not be received.  The Gospel will be furthered.  The question is whether you will be a part of what the Lord is doing around and through you.

Lord, grant that I would have discernment such that I would be aware when You are present.  Help me hear when You are speaking through another.  Guide me in the way of life which You have created.  If I am sent, help me to bear all things for Your sake.  If another is sent, open my ears to hear Your message through them.  In all things, lead me to see, hear, and do what You know I need to receive and do.

Lord Jesus, You have empowered us through the gift of grace to be on the path of becoming children of the Heavenly Father.  You have given us the example of what that looks like.  Lead me, Lord, so that I would be guided by You to give and receive according to Your purpose.  Help me this day in all of my struggles so that I would learn and grow in the way of the Gospel.  Amen.

“For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.  For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:20-21).

Do you have those around you who are genuinely interested in your spirit?  The purpose of our Christian fellowship is to first and foremost be a place where the relationship with our Lord and Savior is kindled and nurtured.  Yes, there is the social aspect, but that is secondary.  Work to keep right priorities so that you may live into the life for which you have been called through grace.  Be led by all that our Lord is doing.

Lord, You have built communities that encourage us to live lives of faith.  No community is perfect, but all that are in You are there to be an encouragement.  Help me to be a part of  the community in which You have placed me knowing that it is about You and not about me.  Help me see that You are always at work and that in and through You all things will come together according to the Father’s will.

Lord Jesus, the fellowship is another name for the bride You are raising up to be in You and You in them.  Help me to keep my priorities straight and live into the life You are creating in me as well as in those who are gathered with me in fellowship.  Lead me to see that in You alone is there hope and the only future worth living.  Guide me this day to be a part of the bride You have called out amongst those who have become faithful by Your call.  Amen.

“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition” (Philippians 2:19).

We need workers in the vineyard of the Gospel to share with us the truth of salvation.  In our modern, self-reliant world where we use the internet, we forget that our faith is personal and relational.  Receive the Timothys that come into your midst and know that every worker is worthy of his or her wages.  Be encouraged and be an encouragement to others.  There is nothing new under the sun, so rely upon what the Lord has done consistently throughout the ages.

Lord, I do not know if every age has done this, but I live in a time where we think we are different.  We are not, but we think we are.  Help me to look to You so that I may gain the wisdom You offer, and receive and share what You give.  Help me to be an encouragement to others and to receive the encouragement You send through them.  In and through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life in and through You.  Let me receive You as You come to me in order that I may grow in Your likeness.  Let me receive others as You send them so that I may always be obedient even with what You intend to do through others.  Open my eyes to see these things and rejoice in all that You have done so that we may have the abundant life You intend through grace.  Amen.

“You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me” (Philippians 2:18).

We are to rejoice in one another.  We are to cherish the ways in which the Lord is working in our midst.  We are to look to Him and be glad that He is working through us.  Are you working toward these things?  See this in stark contrast to the world in which we live and its selfish ways.  Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the One who gave His life to save you.

Lord, teach me the way of salvation.  Guide me now and always in the way You have established so that I would walk the narrow road You have placed before me.  Now and always, may I be guided by You and the way of everlasting life.  Help me, Lord, to see through the temptations of this age in order to settle on the good and firm ground of Your grace and mercy.  Teach me how to share the joy of salvation with others.

Lord Jesus, You did not count the cost, but gave up everything so that we who were in rebellion might be reconciled with and through You.  Guide me, Lord, in order that I may now and always live in to this life of faith.  Help me walk through those times where I look only at myself in order that I may rejoice with others in what You are doing through them.  Lead me, Lord, and teach me how to always follow You.  Amen.

“But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all” (Philippians 2:17).

Take your eyes off yourself.  Look at what is being done by the Lord through you.  In this sinful world, people are living for themselves.  Sometimes, you and I are also.  The Lord is making of us something different, where our focus is elsewhere.  Do you rejoice in what the Lord is doing?  Do you hope for what the Lord promises?  Look outward and be willing to be used for His purpose.

Lord, let me not be concerned with what happens to me, but rejoice when I see Your kingdom growing.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth so that I may now and always abide in You, knowing the hope of glory You have given me through salvation.  How can I complain when I see that You gave up everything so that I might gain all things.  Lead me to follow Your example.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the hope You have given me through faith.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always live into the promise You have already given me through grace.  Guide me to know that in You is all hope and a future.  May I learn from You with a willingness to be poured out so that others may live into the same hope You have given me through grace.  Lead me this day and every day.  Amen.