“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 complete it.” Phil. 1:3-6
Dear Jesus, as the last week of August 2023 winds down, thank you for a diverse tapestry of friends who share one common passion and delight—friendship as “partnership in the gospel.”
Not partnership as owners and stakeholders of a corporation; but partnership as in belonging to you, being clothed in your righteousness, and engaged in your commitment to “make all things new.”
Indeed, it’s wonderful to have friends who love taking more “us-ies” than “selfies”—friends who choose listening over telling, giving grace over giving correction, boasting in weakness over just plain ole boasting.
Thank you for writing us into your story of redeeming grace and transforming love. Thank you for rescuing us from Gospel-less religion and grace-less spirituality. Thank you for liberating us from dreams, planning, and investing that don’t include you. Jesus, you aren’t merely an important part of life; you are essential, supreme, and alone worship-worthy.
Continue to increase our passion for your now-and-coming-Kingdom. One day we will bury each other, but today is a day for making much of you, living and laughing in the freedom of the Gospel, and serving you with palpable joy and unshakable hope. Thank you, Jesus, so many times over. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.