Receive Your Sight
Wilderness Wanderings
A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 10:25-37. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it . Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: How is your life an ongoing act of worship to Jesus? How would you describe his glory? What five words would you choose? Who would be considered the ‘outsiders’ in your community? How can you reach out to them as an individual? As a community? ...
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Greetings of Grace
Wilderness Wanderings
“Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen” (Philippians 4:21-23). Well, friends, a summer of slow and steady attention has brought us to the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Today’s devotional will be the last installment of Wilderness Wanderings for the summer, as we have reached a natural conclusion with these last verses of Philippians. There will not be a...
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The Gift Economy
Wilderness Wanderings
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Yesterday, Kyra reflected on the gifts the Philippians had given to Paul. Today’s text is a promise that the young church in Philippi will be cared for; cared for by God. These two things belong together; they follow each other. The way Paul writes, it sounds like God will care for them because they have cared for Paul. But is that right? Yes and no. Because we believe so firmly in ‘saved by grace alone’ we have a difficult time with certain texts in the New Testament. Jesus...
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Grace to Give
Wilderness Wanderings
“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God”...
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Disciplining to Receive
Wilderness Wanderings
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles (Philippines 4:13-14). We continue with the theme of contentment. Paul learned contentment in all things through his reliance on Christ. But this was not a simple two-way street between Paul and Jesus. Our Lord used other people to provide for Paul, as he does for us. Paul knew this and was glad for the gifts from the Philippian church. But this is a difficult teaching. Many of us are rather stoic when it comes to receiving support from others. We decline when someone offers to pay for or...
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Formed by Grace, Not by Code
Wilderness Wanderings
A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Luke 10:25-37. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it . Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: This week evaluate your use of technology like AI, Internet, social media, etc. Maybe keep a log of all the ways you use it. How do you start your prayers? Do you get yourself fully involved? Who do you pray to? What image of God do you have in your mind?...
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Christian Contentment
Wilderness Wanderings
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:10-13). Throughout much of this letter, Paul has spoken of his joy in...
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Feeding the Mind
Wilderness Wanderings
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9). This letter has two key concerns: persecution that the church is suffering from the outside, and, under that stress, forms of conflict that threaten to tear this church apart from the inside (like the conflict between Euodia and...
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Our Prayer, God's Peace
Wilderness Wanderings
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). “Do not be anxious about anything,” Paul begins. Well, that’s quite a start. I must confess that I don’t know that there is ever a moment in my life where I am anxious about absolutely nothing. There are maybe, just maybe, about 5 minutes after I read a verse like this, where I am in a devotional space, and I read this...
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Joy in the Lord
Wilderness Wanderings
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:4-5). Paul begins to wind down his letter to the Christians in Philippi by returning to his opening theme. In the first few chapters, he has told us of the mindset of Jesus (i.e. humbling himself to the cross and submitting himself to the Father alone rather than his own recourse). Paul wrote how he sought to live out of this mindset of Jesus. He also included how the Philippian church and those within it experiencing fights and division (like Euodia and Syntyche)...
info_outlineBut I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed, he was ill and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I am even more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad, and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. (Philippians 2:25-30).
After commending Timothy to the Philippians, Paul turns his attention to Epaphroditus who gets even more space than Timothy and a commendation even grander than Timothy’s because of the things he endured for the sake of the gospel. He was probably a convert since he was named for the goddess Aphrodite.
Roman prisons made little, if any, provision for the prisoner’s food, clothing, bedding, or hygiene. Such things would need to be brought into the prison by family and friends. The church at Philippi, having heard that Paul was imprisoned in Rome, sent Epaphroditus with money and other gifts and charged him to remain and tend to all of Paul’s needs on their behalf.
As he was fulfilling this service, Epaphroditus became deathly ill. But through God's grace he recovered. Paul now wants to return him to Philippi, an act which will relieve the anxiety of the church (which has heard of Epaphroditus' illness), and of Epaphroditus himself (who has been distressed that the church was distressed).
No doubt much of the church’s anxiety was not only concern for the health of the messenger but also frustration over what seemed a failed mission. Epaphroditus was sent to serve Paul, but as it turned out, Paul ended up caring for a deathly ill co-worker. Paul wants to relieve all such anxieties and to pave the way for a joyful return.
The mission had not failed. Epaphroditus became a servant to Paul in his need, and just as Christ Jesus “became obedient to death—even death on a cross”, so Epaphroditus came near death in faithful service for Christ. Just as God, in response to Christ’s obedience, exalted him to the highest place, so Epaphroditus should be welcomed back to Philippi with joy and honor because of his obedience and sacrifice.
In relation to Paul, he is a brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier; in relation to the church, he is their messenger and servant. As to his performance while with Paul, Epaphroditus almost died for the work of Christ. In a hostile environment he did not retreat but risked his life to minister to Paul. The church should not doubt him but follow his example of willing sacrifice.
Therefore, says Paul, let no cloud of doubt or disappointment spoil his home coming. Welcome him with the joy and honor appropriate to his selfless and sacrificial ministry. Epaphroditus risked his life for the sake of Christ. He is to be respected for this.
Who do you know who risked or risks much for the sake of the gospel and the coming kingdom? We should all know such a person, whether they have already passed into glory or still here on this earth. They inspire our faith. They inspire our sacrifice. In the early church, there was a society known as ‘the gamblers’, who risked their lives to care for the sick and imprisoned and to give martyrs and even enemies an honourable burial.
The work of the indwelling God changed both Timothy and Epaphroditus into the likeness of the great Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. They were varied characters, with varying gifts and diverse temperaments; their backgrounds could not have been more dissimilar; but they were each coming to resemble the Saviour; they loved him and followed his example. What was true of them can be true of us; God has not changed.
As you journey on go with the blessing of God:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.