Lesson 4897

 (Lesson 4897) (06-27-25) Philippians 2:17-30 

   “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Paul showed that he was willing to be poured out like a drink offering for the sake of the Philippians faith and celebrated with them. He told them he would send Timothy soon, praising him as genuinely concerned for the Philippians and not being self-serving like so many others. Paul also mentioned Epaphroditus, who had been sick and nearly died while serving, but God had mercy on him. Paul was eager to send him back to the Philippians so that they might rejoice with him and himself might be less sorrowful. He urged them to receive Epaphroditus with joy and honor him for his faithful service. ~