What I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:17-19
I loved the old movies with James Garner called Support Your Local Gunfighter / Sheriff. He played a man thrust into a situation that needed a leader and he handled it with grace, smarts, and humor. Missionaries are on the front lines. Paul wanted the believers in Philippi to grow in their faith in the area of giving and receiving. Why? Because when we support missionaries, we become aware and prayerful for what God is doing in other parts of the world. It keeps us sensitive to the needs of others and fervent for the spread of the gospel. One promise is that as we support what God is doing, He will meet all of our needs according to the riches in Christ Jesus. Now that is a pretty good deal.
Am I aware? Do I care? Does my money show it? Am I actively and continually showing that I support what God is doing around the world? Yes, in two ways. One is through my church tithes and offerings. The other is directly supporting children through CMF and Compassion International.
God, even recently You turned my heart toward the plight of the people in the Philippines. I do pray today that our sponsor child Jessa Nebril is thriving and blessing others and living out her faith in the midst of the aftermath of that massive storm devastation. I also pray for Mike and Jean Propp and the ministry they have to be effective in giving the hope of the gospel and practical care to all around them in Bohol and that city that was hit so hard. Work mightily through them, keep my heart tender and my mind aware.
