February 18
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GOD SUPPLIES ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. – Philippians 4:19-23
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Paul ends this this letter to the Philippians with a promise that God will look after all their needs based on all His riches in glory through Christ. Spurgeon comments on verse 19 “He says to them, ‘You have helped me; but my God shall supply you. You have helped me in one of my needs-my need of clothing and of food: I have other needs in which you could not help me; but my God shall supply all your need. You have helped me, some of you, out of your deep poverty, taking from your scanty store; but my God shall supply all your need out of his riches in glory.’” Spurgeon thought that this verse was a great illustration of that wonderful miracle in 2 Kings 4:1-7, where Elisha told the widow to gather empty vessels, set them out, and pour forth the oil from the one small vessel of oil she had into the empty vessels. She filled and filled and miraculously filled until every empty vessel was full. David Guzik comments “All our need is like the empty vessels. God is the one who fills the empty vessels. According to His riches in glory describes the style in which God fills the empty vessels – the oil keeps flowing until every available vessel is filled. By Christ Jesus describes the how God meets our needs – our empty vessels are filled by Jesus in all His glory. Because the Philippians had given more than they could afford, with the right heart, God is going to top that giving.Paul closes the letter with a praise to God, a doxology, giving glory to the Father and giving his warm regards to all the believers in Philippi. Paul always ends with giving them the blessing of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with them always. Probably all Christians could learn from the Philippians in terms of giving. God blesses those who give generously from their hearts. He gives them back lavishly because he is a loving and generous God who takes delight when we honor what is important to Him. He wants believers to take partnership with those who are working for the gospel to be spread throughout the ends of the earth.
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REFLECTION
• How did God supply your needs when you supported the spreading of the gospel?