The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:1-7, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If ever there were an epistle that ought to be greatly valued by Gentiles, it is the Letter to the Philippians. It was written to the first Church founded in Europe. While Philippians is hardly the deepest, it is one of the sweetest letters ever written by the Apostle Paul.

While there is not a solitary quotation from the Old Testament in the epistle, the words “joy” and “rejoice” are found in every chapter. Notice that only three times is the Holy Spirit mentioned, yet the entire epistle contains more praise than any other writing.

Then dissension broke out within the church, threatening the peace that the Word of God had planted and cultivated within the church.

Two of the leading women experienced confrontation, leading to a virtual split within the church. Paul worked hard to revive unity, without which the church would ultimately fail. Instead of reproving the women for their opposition, Paul worked to fill their minds with the greatness and love of the Lord Jesus Christ! How wise he was! Unity is possible when we lose sight of “self” and rest our eyes on the Scriptures! May the Lord help us all.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom