(REFLECTIONS ON Philippians 2:19-30)

In today’s Scripture, we see Paul’s plan to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the church in Philippi to encourage them. Regarding Timothy, Paul writes,

20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

Regarding Epaphroditus,

29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

Timothy was one in spirit with Paul, not merely as two individuals sharing a common mission, but because both were united to Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Their fellowship was not simply personal, but spiritual and in Christ.

Epaphroditus risked his life continuing in Paul’s work, which was the work of Christ, and so too bound to Paul not only as brothers, but in Christ.

However, Paul also talks about other believers that he could not send to the church in Philippi. Regarding those, Paul writes,

21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, as Christians and the church of Christ, we are not just a huge pool of potential co-workers that are all alert, prepared, and being trained for kingdom work. Yes, many of us at times, and perhaps even now, seek after our own interests, and not those of Christ Jesus, even though we are in Him, and He is in us.

How can Jesus Christ be in us, and yet we fail to live in step with His Spirit or to devote ourselves to His body, the church? It is because in our battle between the flesh and the spirit, we are letting the world have more influence over us and our daily decisions, than Christ and the Holy Spirit.

How then do we let the Holy Spirit take over so that we are also bound in spirit to Christ and willing to live for Him and Him alone? We must continually yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, submit to Christ’s lordship, and allow God to shape every area of our lives. Yes, we must be overwhelmed daily with His anointing.

If we try to hold on to what we have, who we are, and what is “mine,” then it will be difficult to seek after the interests of Christ Jesus. This tension and struggle is real and it is a daily reminder to come before the Lord, in the Holy Spirit, and bow physical and symbolically before our Lord and Savior.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Philippians 2