Philippians 4:1-13. Our reflections for the following 13 weeks will be based on this passage from Philippians. We invite you to weekly read all 13 verses as a way of soaking in scripture.
Listen:
Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3)
Reflect:
Arising from verse 2 before, Paul “calls out” support for the two women Euodia and Syntyche who were passing through a rough stretch of disagreement. He calls out his co-laborers to reach out and help. It got me thinking of the importance being real and raw in stepping out for each other and to assist in difficult times. This ensures that we remain in the faith. Paul shows us how to encourage one another, acknowledging our humanness and the power of unity of believers.
Paul recognizes the work of the two women and other co-laborers in ministry and confirms their faithfulness in spreading the gospel of Christ. I believe in words of encouragement, community, and the power of resilience and perseverance God has given to women. Paul saw this strength in the women in this story. May we see the same in each other and refrain from judging, uphold each other in times of weakness. This is my call out!Through the lens of the Holy Spirit, the light comes through, reflecting God’s love which covers all dark dots in our lives. The Kingdom of light shines in us no matter what, for in everything, we give thanks to our God.
Finally, I call out my dear co-laborers in Lifesprings International from the United States, Grenoble, Zurich, Geneva, Grenoble again, Mongolia, Lyon, and Uganda. Sisters in faith, I encourage you to soldier on in empowering women to serve and impact their communities with God’s love. I call out our outgoing and incoming Executive Directors of Lifesprings International, Janice, and Diana, respectively. You are precious before the Lord and heaven rejoices in your service to women.
Prayer of Response:
Dear heavenly Father, as you watch over us, we bring our feeble selves before You today. We confess that sometimes we fail to encourage one another and ask for forgiveness for judging each other. Restore in us sisterhood love for your name’s sake. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- Are you finding it difficult to agree and support a co-laborer who is going through challenges?
- Can you look for ways of having to common ground in the lens of the Holy Spirit?
- Are you able to ask for forgiveness where you have judged even if it is true a sister or brother is in the wrong? Can you find words of encouragement within you in such a case?
—Submitted by Elizabeth Gachuiri
Elizabeth lives in Ferney Voltaire, France, and works in Geneva in an International Organization dealing with Trade and Development. She is deeply in owe of God’s love and goodness in her life, so glad of her life’s testimony of “there is nothing impossible with God”. She believes in the work of Lifesprings and the networks she has been part of. Excited about Lifesprings School of Ministry, LSM-Formation Zoé of Uganda and the launch coming up on 25 September 2021
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