Philippians 1:3 - Thankful for You

WhenPaul thought about the believers in Philippi, his heart was filled withgratitude. Think about that for a moment. How often do we think about peopleand immediately feel grateful and thankful? Too often, our thoughts go in theopposite direction. We remember disagreements, frustrations, disappointment,hurt, and pain—people stabbing us in the back, if we are not careful. But whenPaul remembered the church at Philippi, he remembered people with gratitude.Why? I am convinced it is because he looked at them through the lens of God’swork in their lives. Sooften, as we minister in the name of Jesus to people around us, the devil willattack us with the smallest things. We can literally conquer mountains, yetstumble over molehills. There is a tremendous temptation to dwell on the hurtsand the pains rather than on what God has done—even in the past. Asyou read about the people of Israel in Egypt, you’ll remember that God, by Hismighty and awesome power, delivered them. He delivered them as they crossed theRed Sea, with the armies of Pharaoh destroyed behind them. But no sooner hadthey entered the wilderness than they lacked a few things they thought they hadto have. They did not believe. They did not trust God. They were not thankful.They forgot God and His mercies. Immediately, they began to complain and murmurand backbite, speaking against their leaders and saying, “Why did you do thisto us?”  Myfriend, if we are not careful, we will look at the world—and at people—throughour own lens of pain and hurt, rather than remembering how God has wonderfullyused people to help us, such as Moses and Aaron in the case of Israel. God usespeople in our lives, and we need to be thankful. Gratitude changes how we seepeople. Instead of focusing on flaws, we begin to notice God’s grace at work. Insteadof remembering offenses, we remember blessings. Today, try something simple. Thinkabout someone in your life who has encouraged your faith. Maybe a pastor, afriend, a parent, or a believer who prayed for you. Now thank God for them. Ioften think back to February 21, 1971, when Dr. Harold Rawlings allowed me tocome to his house on a Sunday afternoon. He sat down with me and prayed withme, and I left his house that day a new creature in Christ Jesus. He is stillalive. I still send him notes from time to time. Romans1:21 should warn us of what happens when we are not thankful: “Because,although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, butbecame futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Theyprofessed themselves to be wise, and they became fools…”.  My friend, we must cultivate grateful hearts.Think about how God has used others in your life, and even how God has used youin the past—just like the Apostle Paul. Can you imagine who Paul was thinkingabout when he wrote: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”  Maybe Lydia, who was saved by theriverside. Possibly the Philippian jailer and the young girl who was deliveredfrom a demon. And the many others who believed, who became followers of JesusChrist. They formed a church that truly appreciated the Apostle Paul. They senthim supplies. They sent him money to support him along the way. And when Paulthought about them, he thought good thoughts. He had a grateful heart, and hethanked God. Weneed to remember that our joy is not determined by our circumstances. Joy growsin a heart that remembers God’s goodness—especially through people. I want toencourage you today: keep your focus on God at work in the lives of others, andremember how God has used you in the past. You might feel like you are in adormant season. It might be sickness or illness, and you are sitting therewondering, “Oh, I miss those days when I could interact with people and talkwith them.” Paul was in prison, yet he thought of those people and wasgrateful. That is why he had a heart overflowing with joy.