United in Grace

Philippians 1:7-11 || Sunday, September 27

Do you ever stop and wonder about how God's grace goes to work in our lives? We know that we're saved by grace, of course. Like Lydia by the riverside, our hearts have been opened to understand and believe in Jesus as our savior. Because of him, we stand accepted by God—cleared of a debt we could never afford and given a gift we could never deserve. But what comes next in this "good work" that God is doing in each of our lives?

This past Sunday, we studied Philippians 1:7-11, focusing on three essential fruits of God's grace at work in us: unity, love, and righteousness.

Paul reminds us that as fellow believers, we are all partakers of grace. No matter our differences, every one of us comes to the same Savior—Jesus Christ—with the same need—forgiveness for our sins—and receives the same mission—to go and tell others about him. God loves when His people are unified around this truth, so it shouldn't surprise us that the Enemy schemes to divide and scatter the flock. When we strive for unity, we're submitting to God's gracious work in our lives and waging war against Satan himself.

The unity God calls us to reaches the very center of our hearts. Paul had the heart of Jesus for his Philippian brothers and sisters—yearning for them with the affection of Christ. God's grace at work in us produces this same kind of costly and committed love for one another that perseveres even when we are weary and wounded. Christ-like love is the only "glue" capable of preserving our unity in him.

Finally, grace empowers us to grow in righteousness as we demonstrate love and strive for unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As we walk with one another—united by our common savior and mission, bound together by the love of Jesus, pursuing His righteousness by the grace He supplies—we bring glory and praise to Him.

So brothers and sisters, let's pray and strive continually for unity, love, and righteousness. All by His grace. All for His glory.

In Him,

Noah