Unity in service…

 Unity in service…

  I have been with family and friends these last few days…as well as reading in Acts, Ephesians and now Philippians…

Two of the families I have been with have experienced pastoral changes in their respective home churches, one from the sudden passing of their pastor and the other from retirement.

Both bodies have weathered the transitions and have grown through the  change… God brought them shepherds to carry them and heal their wounds, to bind up broken hearts, encourage…

Now here is Paul, writing with joy from a prison cell…joy or rejoice is written 16 times in the book of Philippians…

He has ended Ephesians with Grace to all…

One author writes, “We can build unity in our churches through willing submission to Christ’s leadership and humble service to one another”. (Application Study Bible)

Paul’s writings of admonishment, encouragement, teachings all shepherding those many churches that he knew of, visited, stayed…he strove for each persons growth, each body of believers growth…his joy was others in Christ…his joy was Christ…unity…

I appreciate the fact that I found a body of believers, a pastor and staff who desire the same …

Thank YOU…

 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of  Christ. Eph.4.1,Eph.4.3,Eph.4.13

 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Phil.1.3-7

Bind us together…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCfks7I_bU