Verse 1. “Therefore
if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation
of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection
and compassion,”
Have you ever been ENCOURAGED by the
Lord? Has He touched you with His love, through other people,
in His Word, or directly to your heart? Has He given you “fellowship”
with His Holy Spirit (which He may have expressed through other
human beings who are also filled with His Spirit)? Have you
ever known “affection?” Has anything
that can be termed “COMPASSION”
ever come your way?
And if I may answer for you – of COURSE
it has! All too often, in our hurt, anger and depression, we
have refused and have not even SEEN God’s many offers of love;
but they have been given. All you have to do is honestly look
with your heart at the Cross of Christ, and you encounter His
love. He who knew no sin has borne every sin in not only your
life, but also in the lives of those who have hurt you. All
you have to do in response to Him is TRUST in the Lord.
Verse 2. “make my joy
complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love,
united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”
This verse is in the direct context
of Chapter One, where Paul said, “To live
is Christ” (Philippians 1:21) and to die is gain. The
reason Paul stayed on earth was because he recognized that he
would be a help to others by remaining in this place. God has
a purpose for us all and we should be “of
the same mind” – loving others more than we love our
personal comfort and be willing to stay or go from life as GOD
directs.
Down deep inside, we all want happiness.
And this verse is a key to finding the "JOY"
of the Lord, which is better than transitory happiness. We become
“complete” in joy, in "love"
and in every other good thing, by giving ourselves to helping
others as the Lord directs. By loving others, by our agreement
in love with one another; by regarding others as more important
even than ourselves, we not only GIVE joy, but our own joy is
made “complete.” It feels
GOOD to be "united," to have "one
purpose," and we can do it - In HIM, who loves you and
me.
Verse 3. “Do nothing
from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
regard one another as more important than yourselves;”
There is a force within humanity that
drives each one of us to want to BE something, to BE somebody
of importance. “What about ME?” is the cry within the human
heart. In this verse, Paul is speaking of religious activities
that seem to be done for the Lord, but actually stem from “selfishness
or empty conceit.” Then Paul reveals how we may find
the JOY that has eluded us for so long:
To act in “humility
of mind” is precisely the opposite of “selfishness”
and this “humility” is a necessary
component of love. To “regard one another
as more important” than yourself is to become their servant,
to LOVE them, to care for their needs. There is an interesting
verse (1 John 4:18) which includes these words: “perfect
love casts out fear.” When we “regard
one another as more important” than our own needs, truly
loving them, we find 1) HEALTH, deep in our souls, 2) the JOY
of the Lord, and 3) a lessening of our personal fear.
Verse 4. “do not merely
look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests
of others.”
What would happen in this world if every
one of us began to “not merely look out
for (our) own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others?” Well, a LOT would
happen. The typical response by neighbors when a property in
their neighborhood is becoming run down, is to criticize those
who live in that house – “Why don’t they FIX that roof?” Or,
“When are they going to get that old car out of the driveway?”
– What’s the MATTER with them?”
Actually, such attitudes, when we exhibit
them, reveal that there is something wrong with US. We are to
“look out” for the “interests
of others,” helping them instead of speaking badly about
them. When the house next door needs painting and the owner
of that house is elderly or incapacitated, God EXPECTS the neighbors
of that person to get together and paint that house! The selfishness
of this world is an aberration - God expects much more from
you and me.
Verse 5. “Have this
attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”
Can you imagine this verse? – We are
EXPECTED to have the very attitudes and actions that we can
"see" in Christ Jesus! Amazing! He went about healing the sick,
comforting the lost and lowly, and speaking words of restoration
and healing to all He met. He overturned the money changer’s
tables and we are expected to not only help others, but also
overturn the tables of sin WE encounter.
By overturning “tables,”
by not merely looking out for your “own
personal interests” (verse 4), you will have enemies.
It happened to Jesus, and those enemies eventually had their
way and took His life. Remember Jesus’ words: “If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:25). He also
said, “Whoever desires to save his life
will lose it” (Matthew 16:26) – but you actually have
little to lose and everything to gain by accepting the “attitude”
of Christ Jesus and becoming ALIVE in the sight and power of
God.
Lord, we see that we are to have
the love and unselfishness of Jesus Christ. We are incapable
of it, Lord, and we come to You, confessing our lack.
We ask for new hearts, capable of love. Hear and answer
our prayer, Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study – Philippians 2:6-10
Verse 6. “who, although He existed in
the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,”
This verse, for many, has been one of the most profound verses in
Scripture because it gives us a look at the life and spirit of Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, BEFORE He came to earth to die for our sins. It also shows us His
"heart." “He
existed in the form of God,” and yet He “did not
regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Jesus Christ was, is and
always will be – "God." The Father is God. The
Father and Son are One, (as we are intended to be "one,"
also - John 17:11), and each of Them has their role, but They have NONE of the
jealousy that characterizes humanity, and all the LOVE that is typical of God.
In Micah 5:2, we can catch a prophetic glimpse, 700
years before Jesus' birth, of His
advent, His birth and it also tells us where He came from: He
would be born in “Bethlehem,” as it says, a “little”
place. And that verse in Micah also tells us that He would be “from
everlasting” (literally “from the days of eternity”).
Jesus always has been God, the Son of God, a Person of love, Someone who exhibits that love by thinking of others first – eternally.
He does not take, like people do. Instead He GIVES the way that only God can
give.
Verse 7. “but emptied Himself, taking
the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
In verse 6, we observed that Jesus Christ “existed
in the form of God,” and in Micah 5:2, it is seen that He came to earth “from
everlasting,” literally “from the days of eternity.”
In this verse and in Philippians 2:8, His manner of life in this world is described. He
“emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant”
- literally He kept nothing for Himself, but became a slave to the will of God for the need of humanity. He
gave up everything, out of His love for you and me.
He came “in the likeness of men.”
That is, He became a man, with all that the condition of “humanity” represents,
including our human weaknesses and our limitations. Instead of having sight and hearing that
was infinite, He could now only see and hear what was right in front of Him; just
like us. And He was the true “bond-servant,”
who sought nothing for Himself, but gave us – everything!
Verse 8. “Being found in appearance as a
man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death
on a cross.”
Many in humanity don’t mind doing something for someone else,
just as long as it does not cost them anything. We think of money and time as
“ours,” even though, at some level, we recognize that all things, including our
time and possessions, belong to God. Jesus did something incredibly different
than any one of us,
acting in utter faith, in complete obedience to the Father, out of love for us
all.
Usually, even those who are willing to give, also establish
limits on how much they will give up. Those who “tithe” to religious or other
charitable organizations will choose an amount, say 10%, that they will give,
which, of course, leaves 90% for themselves. And that’s defensible, for we have
responsibilities such as families and bills. If we don’t keep something back, we
might die! Jesus did not draw that line. He was “obedient”
even “to the point of death,” even a terrible “death
on a cross.” He gave His life for you and me.
Verse 9. “For this reason also, God
highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,”
You can compare our walk of faith (or unbelief) on this
earth to an earthly investment banker, who personally takes financial
risks and also advises others. If you do well, you will reap a reward, but if
you invest poorly, you won’t. Jesus Christ utterly invested Himself in the Human
race, giving it all for you and me. When you honestly entrust yourself to Jesus
Christ, you receive the benefit of God's Holy Spirit, who begins to help you
understand what Jesus has done for us all.
To have “faith” is to respond to God, and
“unbelief” is when we don’t. Jesus lived a life on this earth in utter faith,
responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit to an extent we truly don’t even
begin to understand. “For this reason,” it says, “God
(the Father) highly exalted Him, and bestowed on
Him the name which is above every name.” Don’t be
unduly discouraged because you don't measure up, for God has rewards in eternity for
even OUR small faith. Just TRUST in Him who "is above
every name." You’ll be glad you did.
Verse 10. “so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the
earth,”
We have all met those who have no expectations
whatsoever of EVER bowing “at the name of Jesus.”
Some of us have actually BEEN like that, and it is possible that a few reading
these words feel exactly that way right now. Note that this verse is a PROMISE.
Every one of us WILL “bow” “at
the name of Jesus” Christ, the Son of the living God. YOU WILL "bow"
before Him, no matter what your thoughts are about Him.
There are no exceptions. If you are standing or are
otherwise on this planet; if you are “under the earth,”
either in death or living in a cave; if you have gone to eternity or
have become an astronaut who is living in space – wherever or whoever you are,
you WILL bend your knee in recognition that “Jesus Christ
is Lord” (verse 11). The intelligent decision is to “bow”
before Him right now in faith and in love. The alternative is eternal
embarrassment and shame.
Father, we give our hearts and our lives to Jesus
Christ. We trust in Him now. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and give us the
peace that only God can give. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio
Bible Study – Philippians 2:11-15
Verse 11. “and that every tongue will
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“Every tongue will confess,”
means that someday, every person who has ever lived will look upon Jesus Christ and
acknowledge that He is “Lord” of all. Each of us will have
no alternative but to agree that He is the King of glory. The defense mechanisms
humanity has used in this life (such as "denial") will no longer be possible.
And all human ideas including atheism and agnosticism will be revealed as bankrupt
systems of thought.
Every one of us really has two choices: We can “confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord” right now and be with Him forever, or wait
until it is too late. At that point, any such confession will be the person’s
last words as they experience the final judgment that will fling them into hell.
The truth about Jesus is obvious, and today is the time to say “yes” to His
love.
Verse 12. “So then, my beloved, just as
you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”
The word in the Greek for “obeyed,”
is often translated just like it would be in English: to submit to someone
else’s way of doing things. It can also mean to “listen
intently,” to “attend” to what is being said
or modeled for them. Paul, the author of this letter, is saying that the Philippian believers had been (and
were) RESPONDING to the Gospel of (the good news about) Jesus Christ, as related
to them through the Apostle himself.
Not unlike having children, it’s one thing for someone
to listen to you while you are present with them, and quite another for them to
continue to respond after you are gone. The Philippians were CONTINUING in
Christ. There are two ways of looking at the salvation we are offered: For one,
it is
God’s sovereign choice – just as surely as Jesus chose His apostles, you are
CHOSEN for salvation. And there is also such a thing as “free choice” – you are
to do your part with holy “fear and trembling,”
which is to TRUST in the Lord.
Verse 13. “for it is God who is at work
in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Jesus Christ is “the author and
finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He created that faith in us and
He will complete the work that will bring us to glory in eternity. If you look
at your faith carefully, you will discover that your ability to believe has been
carefully placed into you, like a seed planted in the ground. That is what is
meant in Hebrews 11:1, where it says, “faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” His
faith in you is the blessed evidence that you have eternal life in Christ Jesus.
And He gives you His Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost,
when “all were of one accord” in the Upper Room… "they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1-4). In discussing that
event, Peter said, “Repent and…
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“God…" is indeed "at work in
you… for His good pleasure,” evidenced by
the faith you are given and by the Holy Spirit who leads you.
Verse 14. “Do all things without
grumbling or disputing;”
The original language of
almost all the New Testament at the time it was written was a common variety of the
Greek language. The Greek word for “grumbling”
in this verse is a form of the word “gonguzo,” which is to
mutter or murmur in a low voice. An early Greek translation of the Old Testament
called the “Septuagint,” chose this word to describe
the murmurings of ancient Israel against God.
“Disputing” (a form of “dialogismos”)
means a kind of INWARD questioning, a skepticism, doubting and criticism. It is an
intellectual rebellion against God. This is the person who follows the precepts
of religion on the outside, but inside, that person has a lot of unbelief.
Submission to the Lord and His will must be real INSIDE in order for the person
to truly belong to the Lord. In EVERYTHING, in our thoughts and in our actions, we are to be “without
grumbling or disputing.”
Verse 15. “so that you will prove
yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in
the world,”
We don't have to "prove"
ourselves to God because He utterly knows our thoughts, our words and He is
intimately acquainted with all our ways. If we have become "blameless
and innocent," He knows it. If we are not, He knows that, too.
What God calls our "fruits" are the actions that come out of
us - Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them"
(Matthew 7:20). You will know others by what they do, and others will know
you in the same manner.
In Galatians 5:19-26, Paul compared the "works
of the flesh" with the "fruit of the Spirit."
To see the "works of the flesh," we can read the
daily newspaper or watch the evening news. The "fruit
of the Spirit" includes "love, joy, peace" and so on; actions and
attitudes in you through the Holy Spirit - you cannot create them by effort.
You become "blameless and innocent" through the Son of God planted deep in your
heart. The Holy Spirit continues the work, enabling us to "appear
as lights" in "the midst of a crooked and perverse"
world.
Father, we understand that to be "blameless and innocent" is
to TRUST in Jesus Christ. Let our hearts be pure and our works be "above
reproach," in Your power and in Your love. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study – Philippians 2:16-20
Verse 16. “holding fast the word of
life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not
run in vain nor toil in vain.”
This verse has special significance and it’s important
for us all. When YOU are “holding fast the word of life;”
when you continue to TRUST in the Lord Jesus, follow the Spirit of God, grow in
His Word and pray – you encourage OTHERS! Paul could "glory"
at the faith of those in Philippi. It’s not only about how you and I feel; it’s also about
others and how they are made to feel because of YOUR response to the Lord.
If we are just in this for ourselves, we "toil in vain."
Paul had led many in Philippi to the Lord, and if they
continued in Christ, he would know his work among them was not in “vain” and
he would be encouraged. By your life in Christ, you add to the joy of others. You
thrill the hearts of angels. You bless the person or persons who led you to
Christ. You encourage the redeemed of God and you bless the heart of the Lord
Himself. Yes, we are saved, but it is not merely for ourselves - it's time
to "glory"
in one another on this journey through life.
Verse 17. “But even if I am being poured
out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice
and share my joy with you all.”
In the various cultures of that time, a “drink offering”
was a common type of religious "sacrifice." Paul, the human author of the Book of
Philippians, spoke from a Judeo-Christian reference and was likely referring to
Numbers 15, where the “drink offering” is discussed. An offering of a large
quantity of wine was given in relation to a “burnt offering,” and
it is described
as a “sweet aroma” to the Lord. Wine was a valuable commodity and
giving it up was an
indication that you valued God more than your possessions, when presented by a "heart"
filled with love for the Lord.
Paul, in this verse, compares himself to a “drink
offering” poured out on behalf of others. He had given himself utterly to the needs of
those he served, as in this
instance the Philippians, the direct recipients of this letter. He had given to
them with an honest heart, full of love for the
Lord and for those he served, holding nothing back. He did not regret any of it
and was simply GLAD because of THEIR "faith" in the Lord.
Verse 18. “You too, I urge you, rejoice
in the same way and share your joy with me.”
He knew the Philippian believers would be glad in
relation to what had happened to the Apostle Paul, for the same reasons he expressed about them in
the preceding verse. He was glad for their faith, and they were glad for his. When we finally understand the great gift God has given by
accepting our faith in the Lord Jesus as sufficient for salvation, we will
rejoice as they did, interestingly because of the faith that OTHERS have in Jesus Christ.
Do you do that? Do you "REJOICE" because OTHERS have
trusted in the Lord? Are you glad for them? Even though they may have harmed you
in the past? Whatever differences we may have with those people; no matter how
badly they may have treated you – PRAY for them to trust in the Lord. When they
do, your injured heart can finally be turned from sadness into rejoicing.
Verse 19. “But I hope in the Lord Jesus
to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of
your condition.”
The Lord had gifted Paul in many ways. Part of that
gifting was within himself – he was enabled to share the Word of God, the good
news, and many of his listeners had come to the Lord through him. He could teach
the Old Testament as a living reality, so others might understand and grow in
the faith. The ability to work miracles was given to him, so the dead were made
alive and the sick were made well.
But Paul knew that the greatest gift of all, right next
to his own salvation in Christ Jesus, was the gift of people – the shared love
of human beings who faithfully served the Lord (and one another) during the
decades of his ministry. Dr. Luke was his faithful friend and physician. Silas
was with him and served him, as did Titus. Perhaps most of all – "Timothy,"
the young man
named in this verse, was a comfort to him. Note that Paul was willing to give
Timothy to the Philippians for a time, who would then return and report back so Paul could more effectively pray for them.
Verse 20. “For I have no one else of
kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”
As Paul said in this verse, he had no one like the Timothy
who was named in the preceding verse.
This younger man Paul was sending was unmatched in the older man’s estimation because of
his love for others and his willingness to serve their needs. As Paul said in a letter
addressed to Timothy: “You have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, love (and) perserverance” (2 Timothy 3:10). He
was God's son in Christ Jesus, and he had become a son in the faith to Paul.
Timothy loved the Lord, he loved his mentor, Paul, and
this young minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, loved those he served. Paul
himself had become that kind of man, and so should you and I never be content
until we utterly love the Lord and care in that manner for the people that God has placed
into our lives. To do so is to become a "kindred spirit" with men (and
women) like Paul the Apostle.
Father, give us love and faith like that of Timothy
and the Apostle Paul. We look around us today and see a LACK that can only
be filled by the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Come Holy Spirit -
fill our thirsty souls. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Friday Study–Philippians 2:21-25
Verse 21. “For they all seek after their
own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.”
The Lord has a WILL, a plan for every one on earth,
and His plan includes you and
me. If you do not know the Lord Jesus personally, then to accept Him as your
Lord and Savior is God’s next chosen step on your journey through life. If you DO
know Him, but do not know His intention for you, then seek His will in prayer.
He DOES indeed have a plan for you and He will reveal much to those who seek Him.
The reason so many have no idea what God has in store
for them in right here in this verse – “they all seek after their own interests,
not those of Christ Jesus.” Each of us was created by God for HIS good purposes. The
fact that so comparatively few respond and follow Him is a tragedy, which can be
corrected in our lives by seeking Him, in prayer and in His Word - looking to God’s “interests”
for us in “Christ Jesus” instead of merely our own.
Verse 22. “But you know of his proven
worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child
serving his father.”
Paul spoke and wrote in a time when MANY sons served
with their fathers in an occupation they shared together; where the father was
the mentor for the son. The daughter was typically mentored by her mother.
These days such relationships are becoming rare, but in Paul’s time, he was able
to use such an analogy because it was common enough to be understood by his hearers.
They would KNOW what he meant.
Timothy was not the blood son of Paul, but he was Paul’s
son in the faith, accepting the older man’s leadership and serving him as a good
"child" would respond to an excellent "father." Timothy had shown “proven worth,”
demonstrated by his faithfulness to Paul and to those in the body of Christ, the
church. Timothy is our example of how we should serve the Lord and one another –
today.
Verse 23. “Therefore I hope to send him
immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;”
There are those who think a “good Christian” should know
everything, and you possibly have met those who think they do. If anyone today
or in Church history did “know it all,” you would expect it to be Paul the
Apostle, who knew more about the Lord than most who have ever lived. But he did
NOT know it all, as evidenced by this verse.
He WANTED to send his son in the faith, Timothy, to the
Church in Philippi, which may have been God’s will, and it certainly was Paul’s
hope. But note that Paul did not know even what would happen to HIMSELF at that
moment. We don’t know it all. We just know the Lord and are blessed by what He
reveals to us. We follow HIM, for He DOES know how "things"
should "go" for people like Paul,
Timothy, and for you and me.
Verse 24. “and I trust in the Lord that
I myself also will be coming shortly.”
Paul can reasonably be termed an “optimist” in
everything because he knew the Lord had good intentions for his life. He, a very
Jewish man, had been called by the Lord to share the gospel (good news) of
Christ to the Gentiles (non-Jews), such as the Romans who lived in Philippi. He
loved them and never gave up hope that he might visit them once more.
Chrysostom, an early Christian writer, said about this
verse: “Behold how (Paul) makes all things depend upon God.” It isn’t perfectly
clear whether Paul actually made it back to Philippi, but he was content with
God’s will. In Acts 16:6, Paul was “forbidden” by the Holy Spirit from entering
Asia and in 16:7, the Spirit “did not permit” him to enter Bithynia. Paul was
always willing, even though sometimes he was not able to go.
Verse 25. “But I thought it necessary to
send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who
is also your messenger and minister to my need;”
The masculine name, “Epahphroditus” is, in its short
form, “Epaphras,” much like “Ben” is short for “Benjamin.”
The name "Epaphras" is mentioned
in Colossians and Philemon, but the formal name “Epaphroditus” is only given
here in Philippians. There is no evidence that the “Epaphras”
named in the other two books
refer to this man.
Paul spoke his mind and if he didn’t like someone, he
was quite open about it. But he did like this man’s heart for Christ, giving him
the honor of being named as Paul’s “fellow worker and fellow soldier.” He called
the man “your messenger,” which means he had been sent to Paul by the body of
believers at Philippi, with the intention that he would serve Paul. He was one
of the Philippians. Note that the Greek word for “messenger” here is “apostolos,”
often translated into English as “apostle.”
Father, let us be content with what we have and who
we are. Do Your will in our lives and enable us to love one another.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
Verse 26. “because he was longing for
you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.”
Paul, the human writer of the Book of Philippians, had
observed that Epaphroditus, who had been sent by the Philippian believers to
comfort Paul during his imprisonment – was homesick! The man longed to return to
his home in the City of Philippi. Epaphroditus had also been sick physically. He
had been VERY
ill and the Philippians had heard that something was wrong with him.
Note that Paul did not condemn the man or speak badly
about him because of his physical illness and homesickness. He could have said
to the man, “Epaphroditus, get over it!” Or, “Where’s your faith?” But he did
not. He cared for the man, and so should we all care for one another, not
condemning them, but having gentle concern for those who are in need.
Verse 27. "For indeed he was sick
to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on
me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.”
We should all take note of the heartfelt love that
Epaphroditus and Paul had for one another. This was love in action AND in heart.
Note that even though the two were both Romans, Paul was also a Jew, and just a
few years before, they would have had NOTHING to do with each other. Most
Romans had contempt for Jews, and Jews for Romans, but God takes hearts of stone and turns
them into hearts that love.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul said, “If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new.” The great evidence of this "new
creation," not only for our own understand, but also evidence to the
world, is our love for one another. Previously, Paul had no time for
a Gentile (non-Jew) from Philippi, but now he would have had “sorrow upon sorrow”
if the man died.
Verse 28. “Therefore I have sent him all
the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be
less concerned about you.”
Paul says, “I have sent him,” which means that Epaphroditus was the one carrying this letter from Paul back to the Christians
at Philippi. It’s important to see that the man had become Paul’s “fellow worker
and fellow soldier…” the one who had ministered to Paul’s needs (verse 25), but
now Paul returned him to his people because Epaphroditus’ need had become
greater than his own. Such is the love for one another we are offered in and
through Christ Jesus. We become able to give up our needs for the sake of
others.
Paul sent him “eagerly.” He was like the excited parent
on his child’s wedding day. Yes, in a way the child is lost to the parent, but
in another, better way, your “child” is released to find happiness. He loved Epaphroditus more than he loved his own need.
But it had also become a concern that
the man Epaphroditus might work himself to death in service to Paul, which would
be too great a burden to bear.
Verse 29. “Receive him then in the Lord
with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;”
In this verse, Paul the Apostle is urging the Philippian
believers to “RECEIVE” the man Epaphroditus “with all joy.” Note that “joy” (or
“gladness” in some translations) is an emotion. There are some who have said
that we only have to DO for one another in order to satisfy Christ’s command
that we “love one another” (John 13:34). There is a
teaching in some churches that we really
do not have to actually care emotionally for them, if we DO something FOR them.
But God-given emotions such as “joy” and “gladness” take
us much further than mere actions.
Note the example of this verse – we are not only to “receive”
others and commit acts of
kindness for them, but also we are to truly CARE for those we serve. We
previously saw
Paul’s words: “Let this mind be in YOU which was also in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). In other words, we are to be LIKE Him; made into
His image. “Jesus wept” for those who suffered loss (John 11:35). And so
should we CARE for those we serve.
Verse 30. “because he came close to
death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in
your service to me.”
We should all thoughtfully and prayerfully consider the
words of Jesus: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 14:23). Epaphroditus, the man Paul
is talking about in these verses, took Christ’s command literally. He risked his
life for the work the Lord had allotted to him. And Paul took those words
literally, as well.
What should WE do? Are we to work ourselves to DEATH,
abandoning everything including our families and work diligently for others,
as Ephphroditus did? Actually, we do NOT follow some human formula of
behavior. We are to follow the Lord and HIS Word; HIS leading for our lives. We learn that
husbands are to “love your wives” (Ephesians 5:25) and wives
are to “love their
husbands” (Titus 2:4), and – “if anyone will not work
(at jobs), neither shall he eat” (2
Thessalonians 3:10). If we are called to ministry, praise the Lord! but in the
meantime,
live simple, ordinary lives that please our Creator.
Father, give us hearts that love and hands that
serve, not only doing, but also truly CARING for those who are in our lives. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
The First Church On The Net
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchOnTheNet.org "While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
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