Wednesday after the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30 (NKJV)
2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Devotion
St. Paul’s letter mentions the names of real men and real life-or-death problems. It is important for us to remember that our fellowship in Christ’s Church is about real people and real concerns. Too often people think that their life in the Church is more like a hobby than part of their everyday “real life.” They spend a few hours to take in a service, but then they don’t give the Church much serious thought until next Sunday comes.
Our thoughts about the Lord’s Church should not be marginalized. His Word and His work that He does through the saints of His Church should be our primary focus, shaping how we think about all of our days and hours! What you do driving to work or the store can have an impact on another’s life. How you treat the stranger at the gas station or library can be used by God to help their faith. This doesn’t mean we should obnoxiously lecture strangers about the faith. It means we should be patient, kind, and respectful. Whether we speak or simply act, it should be focused on showing Christ’s love to others in the hope that He will bring them to the salvation of His Church. His will be done.
We pray: Almighty and Everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
