“Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.” Philippians 2:28
As I read through Philippians 2:25-30, at first glance there didn’t seem to be much to discover in this passage. But as I reread it a few times, a familiar theme in Philippians began to surface – connectedness.
Epaphroditus has been sent by the Philippians to minister to Paul. Their love for him is so great that they send one of their own to bring aid and comfort to him during his imprisonment. Yet, while he is gone, Epaphroditus becomes sick, almost dying. The Philippians hear this news and they are so sorrowful, so concerned for their brother. And Epaphroditus himself is longing for his brothers and sisters at Philippi because he knows they are worried about him. Paul cannot bear to leave the Philippians sorrowing any longer and sends Epaphroditus back to them.
These people really love each other. Their lives are bound up together, their hearts joined to one another because of the love of Christ.
My heart aches sometimes because I do not consistently see this kind of love and connectedness in the Church today. And I don’t see it in myself either. There are reasons…..our culture is different, our society is more fast paced, etc…..
Reasons, but not excuses.
Jesus commanded us to love one another. And we have not obeyed. We may say that we love each other, but where’s the fruit? We are not involved in one another’s lives. We do not mourn with those who mourn. We do not rejoice to ‘spend and be spent’ for other believers. We disobey Jesus in this and justify it with our excuses.
What is it about us that makes us this way? Sometimes I feel more connected to my online friends than I do my real ones. But even here, it is impossible to care equally for all. We don’t have the capacity for it. And again in real life, at best we can care deeply for only a few – my opinion.
But as you put it, we fall short of it. I wondered today if we as individuals and collectively as the church, have not veered so far from the original, that our struggle is partly due to the attempt to return to it.
It consumes me – or at least I like to think so.
Once again, love your posts. They are both challenging and inspiring.
He is my Delight 
Me either Eirene.
And yes, where’s our fruit in this?
So important to “‘spent and be spent’ for other believers” in Jesus name!
What is it about us that makes us this way? Sometimes I feel more connected to my online friends than I do my real ones. But even here, it is impossible to care equally for all. We don’t have the capacity for it. And again in real life, at best we can care deeply for only a few – my opinion.
But as you put it, we fall short of it. I wondered today if we as individuals and collectively as the church, have not veered so far from the original, that our struggle is partly due to the attempt to return to it.
It consumes me – or at least I like to think so.
Once again, love your posts. They are both challenging and inspiring.