Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

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Reflect

Often, I have made the statement “we need each other” or “we have to have each other”.  God created us for relationship.  Relationship with him and with others.  It is how we thrive and often, especially as Christians, where we find purpose in life.  After all, how can we share the Gospel without relationship?

Paul was writing to the believers in Philippi with whom he had relationships.  Believers who showed compassion as they gave to help care for his needs while he was with them and then again after he had been away from them.  Paul told them he was content and could live in any condition because Christ strengthened him and encouraged him. But he was ever so grateful for his brothers and sisters in Christ to again show their love and care for him.

I have experienced this show of love and compassion from the church as they helped meet the needs of my family.  I have also been honored to help care for the needs of others in giving.  I’m afraid, though, we miss opportunity more often than we lack opportunity to do this; maybe because there’s so much going on in our own lives that we can’t see the needs around us or maybe we aren’t looking.  Whichever it is, we would do well to “share in the distress” of others, to help carry each other’s burdens.  It sure makes the load lighter when there are more bodies to help carry it.

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Pray

Lord, help me to learn to be content in whatever state I am in; to know that you have strengthened and equipped me to abound and suffer need.  Show me today my brother or sister in Christ that I can care for and help meet a need, whether it be physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual.  Open my eyes that I may see!

Go with God!