Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Do You Care?

Today's passage is Philippians 2:25-30, the end of chapter 2. As I study Paul's words about his fellow worker Epaphroditus (there's a name for your next child!), I am challenged to consider my feelings for the "church."

These verses (and as we've seen over the past several days, and throughout this chapter) share some neat things about how much Paul cared for the church. Now when I speak of the church, I (like Paul) am not just speaking of a specific building, or even one specific local body of believers. Yes, Paul's letter here is to the church at Philippi, but his writings collectively are always sharing truth, correction, encouragement and a true love for the Church overall...that is, for all the followers of Jesus Christ.

Paul and Epaphroditus both have such a love for the believers at Philippi, and Paul says that Epaphroditus had become very sick, and that they had heard about how this news distressed the church. Because the church was distressed, this distressed Paul and Epaphroditus...when is the last time I (or you) were so "distressed" about the condition of a fellow believer that it almost caused you to feel sick? In this super-busy world that we live in, it seems very difficult to find time to care about the physical needs of those close to us, much less the spiritual needs of so many around us. Those we call "loved ones," family, or friends...how much do we really care about where they are spiritually? How are we living our lives out in front of others? Do we live one way in front of the "spiritual crowd," and then a much different life in front of our "not so spiritual friends?"

May we be challenged today to consider what our lives are saying to others...but first, may we be challenged to consider what our lives are saying to God about the place He has (or doesn't have) in our lives. On a scaled of 1-10 (1 being the lowest), where is your life in Christ today? Is your relationship with Christ important to you? If so, would those you interact with today, or those who you will spend the weekend with be surprised to find out how you feel about your relationship with Him?

Have a blessed day...
PJ

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