Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 23, 2010
Philippians 4:1-3

 

1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.

3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4:1-3 (NLT)



As a father of three children, I have seen my fair share of fighting. “Keep your hands to yourself” and “treat your brother or sister like you want to be treated” are phrases frequently uttered at my house. It frustrates me when I see my kids fighting over things that are of little significance. It bothers me when I see them valuing issues or things more than their relationships with one another. My job, as their dad, is to try and get them to see the big picture and to set aside these petty things for the sake of the greater good. I often remind them that they will be siblings for the rest of their lives so they better learn to get along.


In today’s passage, Paul faces a similar situation. Evidently these two ladies, Eudoia and Syntyche, had such a tough time getting along that Paul chose to write about it in his letter to the church. Perhaps one cut in line at the local well. Maybe it was a case of Euodia cutting off Syntyche’s camel in traffic one morning. Who knows? But one thing is certain, Paul wanted this episode of First Century Desperate Housewives to come to a peaceful conclusion.

To put these matters to rest, Paul employs the same tactics that I use with my kids. He tries to get them to see the bigger picture, by reminding them of their commonality of being in the “book of life”. In essence he is saying, “you are both going to be in Heaven together forever and ever, so you better learn to get along as sisters.”

I imagine that these two ladies weren’t thrilled about having their dirty laundry aired for all to see, but evidently in was having a negative effect on the church as a whole.

I’m so glad things are different today. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek!)

Perhaps you can relate to this situation on a personal level. Something was said or done some time ago, and you have held onto that grudge all this time. Maybe it was something more recent and it gets your blood boiling just to think about that person. I tell you, with all love, stop acting like a child. Back up for a second and consider this: issues are never more valuable than relationships!

Would Paul have to call you out by name if he were to write a letter to our church? Why not make things right today? A quick phone call, an email or maybe even a facebook message is all it might take to get you back to where things should be. After all, eternity is a long time to spend with someone that you're mad at!

 

A Thankful Thought


The one thing that really makes me most thankful is the patience and grace of God in providing salvation. I grew up going to church. The doors were open and the knowledge was all in my head, but it never made it to my heart. I will never forget the day I prayed and asked God to show me in some tangible way if He truly was real. He answered my prayer and I gave my life to Him. I am so thankful that He was patient with me as I tried to live my life my own way. And now I am so grateful and amazed that He lets me serve Him and help others find Him the way I did.

A NewSpring Staff Member

 
 



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