Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Support Cares for Others” – Saturday, 19 July 2014 - Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Support Cares for Others” – Saturday, 19 July 2014 - Scripture: Philippians 2:19-24 I plan (according to Jesus’ plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy’s the real thing. He’s been a devoted son to me as together we’ve delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I’m hoping and praying to be right on his heels.
25-27 But for right now, I’m dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I’m sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he’s been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others.
28-30 So you can see why I’m so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you’ll rejoice and how relieved I’ll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren’t able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.
“Support Cares for Others” by Norayr Hahan
The Chilkoot Trail is a rugged 35-mile hike over mountains that lead to the gold fields of the Klondike. While the original stampeders had to bring 2,000 pounds of supplies, today people hike that trail for pleasure(and with only 40 to 50 pounds of supplies).
Over the years, my wife has hiked that trail 11 times, 10 of those in the company of others, but one time she hiked it alone. Of all her hikes, the one she did alone was the least enjoyable. There is something about being on a journey with others that we miss when we are alone. We have support when the burden gets heavy. We have encouragement when the feet get sore. We have help if we run into a difficult situation. We can look out for one another.

In Philippians 2:19-30 we find Paul focused on the needs of his friends. He is concerned about them and their well-being. It is natural to look out for our own interests. We do that so easily. But as “members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25), we are encouraged to follow Jesus’ example and find ways to show others that they don’t need to travel alone.

Hymn for Today:

“Take Time to Be Holy” by William d. Longstaff
1. Take time to be holy, 
speak oft with thy Lord; 
abide in him always, 
and feed on his word. 
Make friends of God's children, 
help those who are weak, 
forgetting in nothing 
his blessing to seek. 
2. Take time to be holy, 
the world rushes on; 
spend much time in secret 
with Jesus alone. 
By looking to Jesus, 
like him thou shalt be; 
thy friends in thy conduct 
his likeness shall see. 
3. Take time to be holy, 
let him be thy guide, 
and run not before him, 
whatever betide. 
In joy or in sorrow, 
still follow the Lord, 
and, looking to Jesus, 
still trust in his word. 
4. Take time to be holy, 
be calm in thy soul, 
each thought and each motive 
beneath his control. 
Thus led by his spirit 
to fountains of love, 
thou soon shalt be fitted
for service above.
Thought for Today:
“And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello.”(2 Corinthians 13:11-13)
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Nigeria will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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