Mercy
Tuesday, March 7: 25Still,
I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and
fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; 26for he has
been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he
was ill. 27He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had
mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one
sorrow after another. 28I am the more eager to send him, therefore,
in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less
anxious.
Philippians 2:25-28
Epaphroditus. Good
and faithful servant. He worked for his faith so strongly that he nearly
died. He delivered messages behind the
enemy lines. He ministered to Paul and
to the Philippians. When he was sick and the Philippians found out,
Epaphroditus was so upset that they would be worried about him that he longed
to return to them to show him the mercy of God and that he was indeed
alright. Paul depended on his servant,
brother and friend. After all, he was
locked up in prison with no contact to the outside world- to his congregation,
other than Epaphroditus. Yet he showed
mercy on Epaphroditus and the Philippians and sent him back to them, so they
would know the mercy of God.
During Lent we are
reminded of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert. He was called by the Holy Spirit to go into
the desert- he packed up and disappeared.
I’m sure his followers were quite worried about
him. However he didn’t leave for good,
He returned to deliver a message. He
worked for his faith so strongly and for the repentance of our sins, he was
crucified. But God has mercy on us all
and he sends his son back to us each Easter.
He gives us hope in the resurrection.
We don’t have to worry what will happen to us at the end of our earthly
days. If we are good and faithful servants our sins will be forgiven and we
will spend eternity in Heaven.
Dear Lord, please
help us to have the courage of Paul and Epaphroditus, to deliver your message
of mercy and grace. Amen
Denise Clayton