Scripture: Philippians 4:1-3
Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord. Loved ones, I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to an agreement in the Lord. Yes, and I’m also asking you, loyal friend, to help these women who have struggled together with me in the ministry of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the scroll of life.
Thought for the Day: Paul was writing to the community in Philippi for which he felt a deep and abiding love. He had pride in what had been accomplished, but whenever you feel ownership in something you’ve had a hand in creating there is also a desire to protect. Paul’s letter clearly shows this feeling, and understandably. Within the community of Philippi, there appears to have been some squabbling of sorts, and Paul wrote in hopes of nipping this divisiveness before it got out of control. Yet while calling out the disagreement, Paul celebrated these two individuals as those “who have struggled together” with him in his ministry. The word we translate as struggle comes from a Greek word often associated with athletics, specifically the competitions of Ancient Greece and Rome. The city of Philippi was founded by Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, in 360BC. Philippi, like most Greek cities (and later Roman) had a gymnasium in which men competed in different athletic competitions, preparing them for the great athletic competitions of Greece. Paul borrows this common language to describe the work these women had done with Paul. I doubt it was by accident, for Paul saw everything as a training ground for even greater things. The church, in my opinion, too easily loses its zeal and purpose when it has not viewed it struggles as the necessary work for the next great thing.
Prayer: While the struggles may be many and even demoralizing at times, let us never lose faith in you, O Lord who takes every opportunity to make us ready for whatever comes next. You do not cause the struggle, but use it to better the instruments of your love. Amen.
A Photo From Philippi
