3 “I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:3-11, NIV)
This passage of Scripture is the apostle Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer to the Philippians. He is writing the letter with his co-author Timothy from a jail in Ephesus. Even though he and his traveling partner Silas were arrested, flogged, and imprisoned when they were in Philippi, Paul remembers the Philippians’ church with deep joy. He thinks of them and prays for them often. Paul thanks them for their partnership in the gospel, not only in their church but their financial support of his ministry.
God’s grace is abundant to help the Philippians become more like Christ Jesus as they grow in knowledge and wisdom. Paul is confident that God will be faithful to keep growing the church as well as their knowledge of God’s teachings and insights This verse in particular is my focus for this month’s devotional.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
As I studied this passage of Scripture, I thought about the abounding grace that Christ Jesus has for us. When He left this Earth to be with the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue the good work in us. The Holy Spirit quickens us when we lose our way, yet Jesus Christ is faithful and just to forgive our sins. He pours out His grace over and over as we learn to walk with Him and follow His truths. Our lives become more consistent with these truths as we mature in our faith.
In the same way, God created us with internal chemical pathways that keep our bodies in homeostasis. Our body temperature, sleep cycles, digestion of food, and blood sugar content are four examples of these internal chemical pathways called feedback loops. Just as the Holy Spirit nudges us to bring us back on track spiritually, products that are produced by our internal chemical pathways keep our bodies within healthy ranges. Most of the internal chemical pathways are negative feedback loops, not because they are bad, but because the end product of the particular chemical pathway temporarily turns OFF that chemical pathway. I will talk about negative feedback loops next month; this devotional focuses on positive feedback loops.
The end products from a positive feedback loop do not turn the chemical pathway off. Instead, the products that are produced keep the chemical pathway ON in order to produce the end result. One example of a positive feedback loop is hemostasis. This mechanism leads to the cessation of bleeding from a blood vessel. Refer to the diagram below as you read the description of hemostasis.
When a break or tear occurs in a blood vessel wall, the vessel immediately constricts to decrease blood flow. Chemicals called clotting factors are released to attract platelets (represented by purple) to the wound site. This initiates the positive feedback cycle. As clotting begins to occur, the platelets also release chemicals to attract more platelets. The platelets stick together and form a platelet plug. The clotting factors also stimulate the production of an insoluble protein called fibrin. As its name suggests, fibrin is arranged in long fibrous chains. The fibrin clot (represented by yellow) strengthens and then dissolves when the injured blood vessel walls close and heal. The severity of an injured vessel wall can vary according to its location, size, and depth. Bleeding from an artery which carries pumped blood away from the heart is more abundant than bleeding from a vein which transports blood back to the heart. The positive feedback loop responsible for hemostasis keeps repeating until the clot is formed.
Another example of a positive feedback loop is labor during childbirth. When uterine contractions begin, the brain stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is carried in the bloodstream to the uterus causing an increase in the strength and frequency of contractions. When the head of the baby pushes against the cervix, nerve impulses are transmitted from the cervix to the brain. The pituitary gland is stimulated to release more oxytocin. This positive feedback cycle continues until the baby is born and the afterbirth is expelled.
https://microbenotes.com/feedback-mechanisms
Just as our body has its own natural positive feedback loops, God in His grace gives us the Holy Spirit to initiate and maintain loops that keep us close to Him. When we are out of balance or feel our spirit is impoverished, remember that God’s grace is sufficient. He knows our hearts, He sees us, He hears us, He loves us. We do not have to be “in control” when we rely on His Spirit to guide and sustain us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, Divine Comforter!
” He Giveth More Grace” by Annie Johnson Flint
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase
To added affliction He addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again
When we have exhausted our store of endurance
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 