The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 2:27-30,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"Indeed he [Epaphroditus] 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 all the 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."
The church in Philippi sent Paul aid in his imprisonment in Rome. Probably money for expenses he might have as well as other items that may have been helpful to him. They sent it with Epaphroditus, who was also sent to serve him in whatever it was he had need of.
As it turned out, in his service to Paul, Epaphroditus got sick and almost died. What Paul says here is instructive for us as it seems many today have some pretty wacky ideas relative to illness, the gifting of the Holy Spirit, and apostolic empowerment.
I note that Epaphroditus was a godly man. The apostle Paul counted him a brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, verse 25. He was to be welcomed back to the church in Philippi with joy and was to be honored by the folks there, verse 29. He was held up as an example by Paul. It was while he was in the employ of Paul, contributing to his apostolic work when he got sick. Here is one wacky notion some folks have today: God loves us and doesn't want us sick or suffering. When we get sick it is an indication of a lack of faith on our part or some sinful condition we are not dealing with. After all, we are to have "authority" over illness as believers. And, certainly, when we are in the midst of doing God's will and serving him, we should not ever get sick.
I have been in the position of having to comfort different ones at times who were ill or had a loved one that was ill and who were confronted by their "fellowship" for an assumed sinfulness or lack of faith. Just how does the account of Epaphroditus fit in with that assumption? And, where do I go in Scripture to read that illness is always due to a sinful condition or lack of faith? Sadly, I note that those who subscribe to this wacky notion get colds and the flu as much as anyone else. And, their graveyards are just as full as well.
I also note that the episode of the illness of Epaphroditus generated anxiety for Paul, verse 28. What was the source of his anxiety? Paul had no idea how Epaphroditus' illness would turn out. Paul could not bear the thought of the gift of Epaphroditus, as a servant for his needs, costing his life! Not at Paul's expense. Paul's anxiety was not only for Epaphroditus' sake, but also for the sake of the Philippians who had sent him. But Paul had apostolic authority. Paul had been given the gift of healing others, see Acts 28:7-10 as an example. A wacky notion some folks also have today is that those who have had authentic gifts of healing others were able to exercise them whenever and wherever they wanted. Where do we get that idea? Where do I look in my Bible to find that notion? The cause of Paul's anxiety lay in the reality that Paul had no idea how things would turn out for Epaphroditus, despite his apostolic authority and gifting from God.
Lots of wacky ideas abound today. What makes them wacky is that they lack grounding in the Scriptures and they spring from the imagination of folks who circulate them till they are accepted and assumed to be truth. I suspect most who hold to these ideas do so with sincerity and a devotion to the Lord. Certainly most would be horrified to think they harbor ideas that have no basis. This is why Paul told us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is only through a commitment and an effort in the Scriptures we can avoid mistaken notions about the things of God.
I'm certainly not going to be too hard on folks who subscribe to wacky ideas. I've held plenty of my own and I am not so confident it won't be long before I stumble over another one I may have. Maybe you can help me... but it will require some time in the Scriptures...
The church in Philippi sent Paul aid in his imprisonment in Rome. Probably money for expenses he might have as well as other items that may have been helpful to him. They sent it with Epaphroditus, who was also sent to serve him in whatever it was he had need of.
As it turned out, in his service to Paul, Epaphroditus got sick and almost died. What Paul says here is instructive for us as it seems many today have some pretty wacky ideas relative to illness, the gifting of the Holy Spirit, and apostolic empowerment.
I note that Epaphroditus was a godly man. The apostle Paul counted him a brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, verse 25. He was to be welcomed back to the church in Philippi with joy and was to be honored by the folks there, verse 29. He was held up as an example by Paul. It was while he was in the employ of Paul, contributing to his apostolic work when he got sick. Here is one wacky notion some folks have today: God loves us and doesn't want us sick or suffering. When we get sick it is an indication of a lack of faith on our part or some sinful condition we are not dealing with. After all, we are to have "authority" over illness as believers. And, certainly, when we are in the midst of doing God's will and serving him, we should not ever get sick.
I have been in the position of having to comfort different ones at times who were ill or had a loved one that was ill and who were confronted by their "fellowship" for an assumed sinfulness or lack of faith. Just how does the account of Epaphroditus fit in with that assumption? And, where do I go in Scripture to read that illness is always due to a sinful condition or lack of faith? Sadly, I note that those who subscribe to this wacky notion get colds and the flu as much as anyone else. And, their graveyards are just as full as well.
I also note that the episode of the illness of Epaphroditus generated anxiety for Paul, verse 28. What was the source of his anxiety? Paul had no idea how Epaphroditus' illness would turn out. Paul could not bear the thought of the gift of Epaphroditus, as a servant for his needs, costing his life! Not at Paul's expense. Paul's anxiety was not only for Epaphroditus' sake, but also for the sake of the Philippians who had sent him. But Paul had apostolic authority. Paul had been given the gift of healing others, see Acts 28:7-10 as an example. A wacky notion some folks also have today is that those who have had authentic gifts of healing others were able to exercise them whenever and wherever they wanted. Where do we get that idea? Where do I look in my Bible to find that notion? The cause of Paul's anxiety lay in the reality that Paul had no idea how things would turn out for Epaphroditus, despite his apostolic authority and gifting from God.
Lots of wacky ideas abound today. What makes them wacky is that they lack grounding in the Scriptures and they spring from the imagination of folks who circulate them till they are accepted and assumed to be truth. I suspect most who hold to these ideas do so with sincerity and a devotion to the Lord. Certainly most would be horrified to think they harbor ideas that have no basis. This is why Paul told us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is only through a commitment and an effort in the Scriptures we can avoid mistaken notions about the things of God.
I'm certainly not going to be too hard on folks who subscribe to wacky ideas. I've held plenty of my own and I am not so confident it won't be long before I stumble over another one I may have. Maybe you can help me... but it will require some time in the Scriptures...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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