While visiting a Christian bookstore I noticed that they were selling Mizpah coin necklaces. When a young man starts to “go steady” with a young lady they will often get one of these which is a coin with the words from Genesis 31:49, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.” The coin is cut in half, one half for each necklace. The boy wears one half and the girl wears the other. The idea is that God watches between the two while they are absent from each other. Well, when I saw that I had to laugh, for two reasons. If you look up the context of that verse you will find that it was actually an oath that Rachel’s father Laban made to his son in law Jacob. It was guy to guy—and what he was actually saying was, “God help you that I never see you again.” Now why else did I laugh? Because back when I was maybe 14 or 15 I shared one of those necklaces with a girl. And I must say, “That was a particularly fitting verse for that relationship.”
Well, at this time, we are starting to say our farewells to a family that will be moving out of state. The Messers are following the Lord’s leading as Tracy has answered the call to pastor in Kansas. I, with my family, have devoted this blog to let them know that we do, indeed, ask for God to watch over them and bless them as they continue this journey called Life. As I looked at the Word of God this week and as I was preparing for another series of messages I came across some Confident Comforts from the Word of God for when Friends are Absent.
The Book of Philippians is one of the Apostle Paul’s prison epistles. He had been in contact with the church, and they had found out that he was imprisoned for the faith. Paul wrote to them to assure them of his good condition in the grace of Christ, and also that, even though they were absent from each other, he was still connected to them. So what do we do when friends are absent?
We commit to them in our prayers to Christ. (3-4, 9-10)
Though Paul was separated by miles from people that he loved we see his commitment to them in the words in verses 3-4. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy….” In verses 9-10 we see the content of those prayers that, “…your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” With this blessing we learn a very important truth, and that is that our prayers for one another are not hindered by distance.
When I still living in Binghamton I received word that my sister had cancer—that was very troubling to me. I was in seminary at the time and was involved in an online class with other men around the country and around the world. Every day we would contact one another on the internet and share the findings of our research and receive constructive help and critique on our projects. When I heard that Theresa had cancer I went online and put out a prayer request for her to the class. Within a day my sister had people praying for her in schools and churches as near as Scranton and as far away as Mongolia. I am certain that when she gets to heaven my sister will be looking up those who huddled in a hut and prayed for her when the missionary brought word that one of the Baptist Bible Seminarians’ sister had cancer. Prayer knows no distance. But even Mongolia is still a short trip in light of that fact that our prayers travel all the way to the throne of God in heaven. Kansas is much closer. Prayer knows no distance.
Tracy, Erica, Gideon, Levi, Elizabeth, Caleb, and Leah; we commit to you in the fellowship of prayer. Know well that even though you have moved away from Walnut Creek Baptist Church, our prayers for you will still continue. Prayer knows no distance.
We commend their service to Christ. (5)
One of the reasons that Paul said he could pray for the Philippians was because of their “fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…”
“The Philippian saints and Paul were partners in the things of Christ. This was true because they shared with him in his need. They gave of themselves to Paul and in turn to the cause of Christ for which he labored. But not only did they share with him in his need as a prisoner. They had also fellowshipped with him from the first day they trusted Christ. This brought great joy to the apostle’s heart.”[1] And even though they were separated by distance—their fellowship in the Gospel was intact.
So often when we think of fellowship we think of what we Baptist do well—we eat! We spend time together. But the Bible speaks of fellowship not only in this sense, but also in the co-laboring for the work of Christ, in suffering for Christ, and in the joy of Christ. Fellowship speaks of the common bond that we have as brothers and sisters in communion with Christ. Paul focused in on their work of care for him—truly their fellowship was in the Work of the Gospel.
We thank you today for your labors in Walnut Creek Baptist Church—which of course does include an awful lot of cooking and eating; that really was a big cookie. When Liz, Danny, and I came here two years ago, you may have had no idea how much we longed to see families that are dedicated to the work of Christ. We had prayed that Danny would meet a young man near his age with godly character, and we are so thankful to know that you have labored to present a family that honors and serves Christ. Thank you so much for your service to Christ, to His church, and for the ways that you have ministered to us as a family. As you labor in your new work, remember that we are still in fellowship because the fellowship of the Gospel of Christ knows no distance.
We remain confident of the purpose of Christ. (6)
Paul told his friends that he was praying for them joyfully, but also confidently. That the one who had begun a good work in them would perform it until the Day of Christ. Paul had spent time with them in the past, and through this ministry there were several people who trusted Christ as their Savior. Among these were Lydia and her family and the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:14-34). A pastor’s heart is as such that he wants to be with the people that he pastored. One of the hardest things that I have ever had to do was leave a church. People do not understand that a pastor must fall in love with the people. But Paul was in great confidence as he prayed for the Philippians. He was certain that God would continue to completion the good work that he had begun in them. And he would continue this work until Jesus comes again.
Does distance hinder the purpose of God? No. While you are moving away from us we are confident that God will continue his work in you. God’s purpose will be completed. Every promise of God to the believer points to this very thing. So of this we have no doubt. The purpose of God knows no distance.
We anticipate our reunion at the Coming of Christ (6b, 10b)
In the latter part of verses 6 and 10, Paul refers to the Day of Christ. This day will begin with the Rapture of the church. This was a favorite theme of Paul; he pointed to the Rapture of the Church as a time of rejoicing for us when we will see Jesus; and not only that but as a time of reunion. He wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
This was written nearly two thousand years ago. But the hope is still the same. The Apostle Paul told these believers at
Tracy, Erica, Gideon, Levi, Elizabeth, Caleb, and Leah; "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
[1]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:649.
No comments:
Post a Comment