Every time I think of you ...

---

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. -Philippians 1:3-6 NLT

---

These last few days I have been sharing here about the people that Paul first met and ministered to in Philippi. There was Lydia who believed after the Lord opened her heart - Paul stayed at her place while in that city. There was the fortune teller who was delivered of a demon as Paul cast it out in the name of Jesus. And there was the jailer and his family who all believed and were baptized. I imagine that Paul was thinking of these friends as he opened this epistle.

I love thinking about how God began a good work in these people and was continuing it even as Paul was writing to them. Even though Paul had left them the Holy Spirit remained with them teaching, comforting and encouraging them in every good work. Perhaps that is the how we should look at our fellow believers. Maybe we would be easier on them if we saw them as a divine work in progress? Maybe this is one way we can learn to give thanks to God for them?

Thank you for the works in progress that you have placed in my life Lord. Help me to encourage them today.

---