JULY 13, 2015
Not Saying
Goodbye
Read:
Philippians
4:1-9
The
things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and
the God of peace will be with you. — Philippians 4:9
Francis
Allen led me to Jesus, and now it was nearly time for Francis to meet Jesus
face to face. I was at his home as it grew time for him to say goodbye. I
wanted to say something memorable and meaningful.
For
nearly an hour I stood by his bed. He laughed hard at the stories I told on
myself. Then he got tired, we got serious, and he spent his energy rounding off
some rough edges he still saw in my life. I listened, even as I tried to sort
out how to say goodbye.
He
stopped me before I got the chance. “You remember, Randy, what I’ve always told
you. We have nothing to fear from the story of life because we know how it
ends. I’m not afraid. You go do what I’ve taught you.” Those challenging words
reminded me of what the apostle Paul said to the believers in Philippi: “The
things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do” (Phil.
4:9).
Francis
had the same twinkle in his eye this last day I saw him as he had the first day
I met him. He had no fear in his heart.
So
many of the words I write, stories I tell, and people I serve are touched by
Francis. As we journey through life, may we remember those who have encouraged
us spiritually.
Who has been your mentor? Are you mentoring others?
Live so that when people get to
know you, they will want to know Christ.
INSIGHT:
Paul often showed his appreciation for people
who had worked with him, and he often singled out individuals for special
mention in his letters (see Rom. 16; Col. 4; 2 Tim. 1:16-18; Titus 3:12-13). It
is estimated that he designates some 80-90 people as his “fellow workers” in the
book of Acts and in his letters. Included are fellow missionaries and interns,
independent ministry associates, traveling companions, fellow prisoners, and
supporters. In today’s passage, he urges two women to reconcile and lovingly
acknowledges that these women, together with Clement (not mentioned anywhere
else in the New Testament) and an unnamed list of fellow workers, have labored
with him in spreading the gospel (vv. 2-3).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015