“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3-11
One of my most overlooked gifts of Christmas is the gift of true fellowship—the inner ring. There are those who are close to us not because of popularity, personality, or exclusivity, but by shared commitment to Christ. In every generation, God builds His own “special forces;” that is, born again believers whose hearts burn with the same desire—to make Christ the center of all they think, speak, and do.
Paul describes this bond in Philippians 1:3–11. He thanks God for believers who walked beside him “from the first day until now,” united not by convenience, but by conviction. Their fellowship wasn’t merely social; it was spiritual. It was a culture. It was built in the trenches together; that is, “in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” These were people who shared the mission, carried the weight, and stood their ground.
This is the inner ring of God’s kingdom, and what a gift it is to be in it!
This is not about forming an exclusive circle or shutting others out. It’s the opposite. It is about being bound together by the mind of Christ—and living with His attitudes. We have His humility, His endurance, His love, His strength, His wisdom, and we are jointly focused on our eternal mission—glorifying Him according to the Father’s will.
The inner ring is a group any born again believer can join.
But only those willing to die to self, take up their cross, and obey Christ daily out of love will remain strong in it. The common bond is not personality compatibility. It’s not similar backgrounds. It’s not social status. The bond is Christ Himself—allowing His Spirit to shape our thoughts, words, and actions. As God’s priorities direct our choices, the sacrifice becomes an opportunity for greatness. When we do it with others, it is multiplied beyond our own life.
Such great joy we find in this inner ring!
Paul prays that love “may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” The inner ring is sharpened by truth. It’s strengthened by accountability. It’s purified by testing. It’s filled with believers who hunger for what is excellent, who refuse to stumble into compromise, because they long to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness.”
As members of God’s special forces, we are forged in the fire of trials and bound together by a common purpose that is far greater than we can imagine. Christ is our center. His glory is our goal. He is our greatest love. And when we stand together like this—committed, disciplined, and surrendered—the good work God began in each of us at salvation multiplies into eternity.
Christmas reminds us of the greatest gift: God with us. Our inner ring—our spiritual brothers and sisters who fight, pray, believe, and persevere with us—is a gift worth thanking God for every single day.
As a member of the inner ring of Christ, we embrace self-denial with joy, because we know God has a vision for us that is far beyond what we can imagine!
Prayer of Thankfulness and Commitment:
Father, thank You for the gift of the inner ring. Thank You for the good work You have begun in each of us and for the promise that You will complete it. Strengthen our bond in Christ. Purify our love. Keep our hearts sincere, steadfast, and without offense until the day of Christ’s return. Make us fruitful. I commit myself to this fellowship, to this mission, and to this discipline of keeping Christ at the center of all I think, speak, and do. May our united lives bring glory and praise to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
