Friday, September 15, 2006

A Person in Progress

“My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Paul was a person in progress—just like you, just like me. As we read through Paul’s letters and compare his earlier writings with his later ones, we can measure subtle but significant changes in his approach to life as he matures. Philippians 4:19 is but one such example. Paul had confirmed over time that God would indeed supply every one of his needs. That Paul had needs should come as no shock. He was in prison. The Philippian believers were concerned about the needs of their patron saint, so they took up a collection—a special love offering—and sent it to Paul via the honorable Epaphroditus (2:25). So overcome with joy was Paul that he wrote them a tender and joyful thank you letter, the book we call Philippians. He was not so overwhelmed by the cash itself as the thought that these dear people loved and cared about him. Because of their sacrificial love toward prisoner Paul, he was able to write, “I am amply supplied” (4:8). God met Paul’s needs. He will surely meet yours.
INSIGHT:When we pray about our needs, God may not give us the answer we envisioned, but we can trust it to be the perfect provision.


I just read this devotional today, and it was timely too. Just when I was agonizing over the fact that I had soooooooooooooooooooooooooo many projects, reports, quizzes, papers, and things to get done, God said, "I will meet your needs." So simple a statement, yet so powerful. No more worrying about what I need to do tomorrow, next week or next month..just the fact that if I just do my part, trust in Him, He will provide a way and lead me through it, and I can trust that His provision is perfect in every way, even in the timing--it is not early, for us not to boast we did it by ourselves, and it is not late, for Him to fulfill His promise. It is just right on time for us to know that it is God who did this. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness.

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