“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).
Most of us have experienced the unique bonds that emerge when we share a meal with someone. It is a gift from God to be able to share this type of “fellowship” with another human.
I recently shared this type of communion with a dear family in Cuba. Their kitchen was rustic (see photo),
but their hospitality was rich and warm. We began the meal by washing our hands with a bucket, because they did not have any running water. There was something distinctive about having to work together to wash our hands. As I stepped up to wash my hands, a friend gently poured water over my soapy hands. He was able to do what I could not. I was unable to complete this simple task without his help.
Then, we sat down to pray and dine together. The congri was warm, and the plantains were fresh, but they were both eclipsed by the richness of the joy we shared together. They had suffered much, but the Lord had been with them. And, now, as we reflected on their experiences, and the ways VOM had helped, they celebrated God’s care and provision for them.
Ellicott said, “It is a lovely thing when remembrance and gratitude are bound up together.” Paul wrote that he prayed “with joy” every time he was reminded of his dear Philippian friends. Although they were over 800 miles away when Paul wrote this letter, the Philippian saints were still an active part of Paul's life and ministry.
In Philippians 1:5, Paul used the word “koinonia” which simply means “fellowship.” There are at least two nuances to this word that we should think about. First, fellowship has the idea of “sharing together” in the sense of partnership. Ancient Greeks used it to describe business relationships. Secondly, it communicates “sharing with” in the sense of giving what we have to others. The Philippians were very giving people. They started giving early and didn’t give up!
Surprisingly, one of the best gifts we share with our sisters and brothers is simply letting them know that they are not alone. I remember talking with a Cuban leader and I’ll never forget what he said. He told me that as he heard about VOM and the way that we prayed for those who are persecuted around the world, he said, “I was so encouraged because I know I am not alone.”
The Philippian believers earned a special place in the heart of the Apostle Paul, and it wasn't because of anything spectacular they did, it was simply because they thoughtfully met his needs—they consistently put action behind their prayers. God will take our feeble attempts and turn them into masterpieces of love, for his glory!
Dr. Jason Peters serves in VOM’s International Ministries department, traveling frequently to meet with our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. He lived overseas for five years and has ministered in more than 30 countries as diverse as Cuba, Nepal, Iraq and Indonesia. He and his wife, Kimberly, along with their five children, count it a great honor to serve with the persecuted church.
This is awesome my dad is a missionary and god has called me
Posted by: jonathan | October 29, 2013 at 06:27 PM