DN The Joy of Recollection 2/10/2006
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 01:32:43 -0500
DRAWING NEAR
February 10
The Joy of Recollection
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you" (Phil. 1:3).
A key to Christian joy is to recall the goodness of others.
Though Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote to the
Philippians, his mind wasn't bound. Often he reflected on his
experiences with the Philippian Christians. As he did, his thoughts
turned to prayers of praise and thanksgiving for all that the Lord
had done through them.
I'm sure Paul remembered when he preached in Philippi and God opened
Lydia's heart to believe the gospel (Acts 16:13-14). Subsequently
everyone in her household was saved (v. 15). Surely her kindness and
hospitality were bright spots in an otherwise stormy stay at
Philippi.
He must also have remembered the demon-possessed girl whom the Lord
delivered from spiritual bondage (v. 18), and the Philippian jailer,
who threw Paul and Silas into prison after they had been beaten
severely (vv. 23-24). Perhaps the girl became part of the Philippian
church--the text doesn't say. We do know that the jailer and his
whole household were saved, after which they showed kindness to Paul
and Silas by tending to their wounds and feeding them (vv. 30-34).
The many financial gifts that the Philippians sent to Paul were also
fond memories for him because they were given out of love and
concern. That was true of their present gift as well, which was
delivered by Epaphroditus and went far beyond Paul's need (Phil.
4:18).
Paul's gratitude illustrates that Christian joy is enhanced by your
ability to recall the goodness of others. A corollary is your ability
to forgive shortcomings and unkindnesses. That goes against the grain
of our "don't get mad--get even" society but is perfectly consistent
with the compassion and forgiveness God has shown you. Therefore be
quick to forgive evil and slow to forget good.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Take time to reflect on some people who have shown kindness to you
and encouraged you in your Christian walk. Thank God for them. If
possible, call them or drop them a note of thanks. Assure them of
your prayers, as Paul assured the Philippians. If you harbor ill-will
toward someone, resolve it quickly and begin to uphold that person in
prayer.
For Further Study:
Read Matthew 5:23-26; 18:21-35. What were our Lord's instructions
regarding forgiveness and reconciliation?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Acts 16:13-34 (NKJV)
13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside,
where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the
women who met there.
14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of
purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened
her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us,
saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my
house and stay." So she persuaded us.
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters
much profit by fortune-telling.
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men
are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of
salvation."
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned
and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her." And he came out that very hour.
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the
authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men,
being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
21 "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being
Romans, to receive or observe."
22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the
magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten
with rods.
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into
prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison
and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of
the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and
everyone's chains were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the
prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword
and was about to kill himself.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm,
for we are all here."
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling
before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved, you and your household."
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were
in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their
stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before
them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Philippians 4:18
Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from
Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an
acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Matthew 5:23-26
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with
him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you
over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there
till you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but
up to seventy times seven.
23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who
wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him
who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be
sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that
payment be made.
26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master,
have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion,
released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him
by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him,
saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he
should pay the debt.
31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were
very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You
wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?'
34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers
until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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