“I thank my God every time I remember you… I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel… 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.” Phil. 1:3-6
Heavenly Father, as 2022 unfolds, eternity-thinking, love-fueling, grace-channeling relationships are going to be essential. Like Paul, we remain grateful for our “partners in the Gospel”—friends with whom we share a daily (hourly) need for the grace of the Gospel. What would we do without friends who need Jesus just as much as us?
We are also thankful for those with whom we partner in the work of the Gospel—locally and globally. It’s a gift to have friends who think like this: “Jesus is returning to finish making all things new—maybe in our lifetime. How shall we invest our energy, remaining days, and money?”
Father, this way of thinking and living makes total sense, and gives unparalleled peace. Because you are committed to finish the work of the Gospel in us (Phil. 1:6), and throughout creation (Rev. 21:1-5). The earth will be filled with your glory one Day, and the new earth will be populated with your every-nation family. Hallelujah!
So, to partner in the Gospel is to partner with you in what you declare to be the true meaning, guaranteed end, and greatest delight of all of history. This surely makes reframing, refocusing, refueling, and reengaging a lot more meaningful than simply retiring. So Very Amen.