WEDNESDAY August 14, 2024
The Joys of Fellowship
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ....
Philippians 1:3-6
On his second missionary journey, Paul went to Philippi with Timothy. This incredible area was a province of Rome. As you dock into the harbor and travel up a steep, mountainous hill, all of a sudden you have a stunning view of a great valley and a mountain range with snow.
Do you remember the stories of Acts 16? The first person Paul and his friends encountered by a riverside was Lydia––a wealthy business woman who sold purple cloth. She readily received the gospel and was baptized––along with all her household.
Then Paul and his companions encountered a slave girl who was demon possessed and daily began to harass them. She had a spirit of divination, and her masters made a lot of money from her fortune telling. Paul addressed the demon who spoke through her and said: “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (Acts 16:18).
Soon after, Paul and Silas were arrested, as the Jews accused them of teaching customs that were unlawful. They were beaten with rods! It remained unknown to them that Paul was indeed a Roman citizen. At midnight, while they joyfully sang praises and prayed, a great earthquake shook the foundation of the jail, and everyone’s chains fell off!
The keeper of the jail presumed everyone had escaped. Knowing his life was forfeit, he thought to kill himself, but Paul reassured him that they were still in their cell. Desperately, the jailer cried out: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” He accepted Christ and was saved, he and his household (Acts 16:25-34).
In Paul’s greeting to the church in Philippi, you can tell he was very thankful for all the friends he made through the gospel there.
God’s children are guaranteed the richest and truest friendships, both here and hereafter.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
