I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Philippians 4:10 NIV
Concerned for Others
Canadians’ top human rights concerns are about censorship, inequality and racism, suggests a survey commissioned by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, while access to health care and education are a major worry for far fewer respondents. A report called Foresights for Human Rights, released by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, contains survey results and offers insights into the issues people in Canada are facing, where they feel progress has been made and where more attention is needed, CEO Isha Khan said in a statement.
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We so often view the people of the Bible as superhuman, somehow able to consistently live above the world, not given to or affected by human emotion. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Bible portrays all the foibles and challenges of real life in the people recorded in it. Even the apostles, usually portrayed in stain glass windows, are in fact human beings dealing with all that it means to be human. Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 4:10: “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.” The apostle here expresses his gratitude for the concern shown to him recently by the believers in Philippi. It wasn’t easy to be in prison. There must have been times when he felt the loneliness of leadership and imprisonment. He says that he rejoiced greatly that at last they renewed their concern. There are fellow Christians who are feeling lonely right now, maybe even abandoned. Take time today to reach out with godly concern and let them know they are loved, and not abandoned – by the Lord or you.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley