I just got home after being gone since Sunday afternoon. Well, technically, I came into the house for about 20 minutes, but I have been gone, technically, since Sunday at 2 PM. Yesterday, I left Honobia, OK just before 10 AM, arrived around 12:45, worked on completing the presentation for Sunday, went home for some last minute items, went to Hot Springs, AR, to visit a family in need of encouragement and prayer, then was on the road again to Oklahoma to celebrate my youngest son’s birthday dinner of Corn Dogs and Corn Nuggets (his choice) with his grandparents. Today, my sister needed encouragement and my niece needed her cousins to celebrate her 6th birthday, and so we drove 2 hours north, and then 4 hours to get back home this evening within 15 minutes of this writing (currently, it’s 9:57PM).
I realized today I had to miss some important events for people I loved. Some people buried family members, there were weddings, and so many other things (I was not trying to slight anyone, I promise); God is reminding me that I can’t be everywhere at once, but I need to be where I am needed at the time I’m needed. I calculated it, and I went about 611 miles, and was on the road for about 15 hours between yesterday and today. And tomorrow, I leave home, yet again, for Church Camp to serve possibly as many as 80 campers, so that we can encourage the next generation to step up and serve Jesus.
I didn’t say all of this to boast, brag, make excuses for not being somewhere, or anything like that. I don’t want to boast at all. But as I was praying and reflecting on the day, and getting prayer requests out to my brothers and sisters all over the US, and, indeed, the world, what kept me from being truly overwhelmed (I was salty, I’ll admit), was knowing that Jesus left heaven to become like me (in form, but not in sin!). My prayer is that of Paul’s: follow me as I follow Christ. Do the same for someone else. Jesus left worship of angels, who could not look upon Him, to get down in the dirt with us. He lived for 33 years as one of us (again, though, without sin). He lived the life we could not and died the death we deserved, taking the full wrath of God on Himself so that all sin for all time would be forgiven, and those who would place their faith in Him would be redeemed (note I didn’t say that all would gain heaven!).
Jesus lived, bled and died for us, the least we could do is go the distance for Him and one another. And we do not do this to earn brownie points, or a place at His side, but out of gratitude for what He has done. We hold nothing back from Him, in spite of the obstacles, in spite of fear, in spite of possible death, because He gave all for us. And so we lower ourselves, as He lowered Himself, and we love and serve and die for Him and others. It is not about back pats, it’s not about atta-boys (or girls), nor is it about recognition. It is about the redeemed spreading the love of Christ, so that all may have a chance to know how good it is. And it’s all worth it.
Philippians 2
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a sone with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
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