SHARING BREAD
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you
Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your
messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because
you heard he was ill. 27 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. 28 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. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men
like him, 30 because
he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help
you could not give me.
Phil
2:25-30 (NIV)
Let’s think for a moment who we would say our heroes are? Do they wear jerseys or uniforms or fancy
clothes? Are they in the limelight with
politics or media or Hollywood? Have
they acquired great wealth or position or influence? Sadly, it seems most of our heroes are as
falling stars – great flashes of light against a pitch black night – soon to
dissipate. No lasting legacy. No character to emulate. Perhaps we are searching for heroes in all
the wrong places. Seemingly, it is rare
for us to choose to make heroes out of those who are simply faithfully doing
what God has called them to do through His power and for His glory.
“We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience,
and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes.
It’s one things to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go
through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no
one paying even the remotest attention to us.
If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will
make people say, ‘What a wonderful man of prayer he is!’ or ‘What a great woman
of devotion she is!’ If you are properly
devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would
ever notice you personally. All that is
noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time….The true test of a
saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of
life.” Oswald Chambers
Don’t get me wrong, I am not in to lauding mere flesh and
blood. The only One who perfectly
exemplified love for God and others was Christ.
Yet, at the same time, we need heroes who are faithfully following the
Lord Jesus, pointing others to Christ, modeling his behavior. In an age bereft of courageous
leadership, declining biblical literacy, and rising cultural accommodation,
faithful voices and actions. None of us will ever be perfect rather faithfully
progressing towards it. I am reminded of
Paul’s words penned to the Corinthians:
1 Follow
my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Cor 11:1 (NIV)
“Every
time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God. Every time we overcome even the smallest
problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our
lives. Whenever we choose character over
convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to
the Lord Himself.” Robert J. Morgan
“Every miracle always begins with the first ordinary step of faithfulness.” Ann Voskamp
In our verses for today Paul tells us of a faithful minister – Epaphroditus, a brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier who took care of Paul’s needs even to the point of risking his life. He shared Paul’s spiritual life, dangers and labors, willingly taking the servants role in order to assist Paul. The bravest love is always wildly faithful, falling new every morning – even in the mundane. Epaphroditus set forth an exemplary lifestyle for believers to follow. Indeed, his name means charming. He served Christ well in serving Paul and the apostle writes to the Philippian believers to honor him and men like him. Paul speaks of others in 1 Corinthians in the same manner:
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of
courage; be strong. 14 Do
everything in love. 15 You
know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and
they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you,
brothers, 16 to
submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at
it. 17 I
was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have
supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For
they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. 1 Cor 16:13-18 (NIV)
"Faithfulness
rarely feels heroic; it feels much more like showing up and hanging in. It is a
matter of going to our cell, whatever form that might take, and letting it
teach us what it will. Availing himself (Brother Lawrence) to consistent
faithfulness yielded the blessing of both proficiency and presence—the presence
of God—right there in midst of the monotony of dirty pots and pans." Margaret
Guenther
What I glean from this:
· Heroes to emulate are those who emulate Christ.
· I am to remain faithful to the finish –
it is to be daily.
· I serve Christ when I serve His people.
