Daily Thoughts from Philippians (3): The Affection of Christ Jesus – Philippians 1:7-8

It was the weirdest feeling.  I had been sitting before a couple in our church seeking to help them find unity in their marriage.  They were feeling little love for one another.  But as we talked I was overwhelmed with the love of Jesus for them and I felt that love coursing through my own veins for them.  I told them what I was feeling, hoping they would also open to Jesus’ love for them and find that love from him for each of them coursing through their veins, as well.  I’ve felt the same thing at times for my children when they are unhappy with each other.  Can they not see how much their mother and I love them and choose the same love for one another?  Can they not see how much God loves each of them and borrow His love?  Paul is striving for this same thing as he addresses the fighting Philippians.

It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:7–8, ESV)

Paul holds the Philippians in his heart and can justify these feelings because they together have shared in God’s grace.  The fellowship of God’s grace has not been all roses.  They have partaken of His grace together in Paul’s imprisonment for the gospel.  In a way their relationship began this way when Paul first brought the gospel to Philippi and was jailed and beaten.  And now Paul is under arrest for the gospel and the Philippians are right there with him in spirit and have just delivered to him a monetary gift to help cover his expenses (in Rome he had to rent his own place and though chained to a guard had to provide for his own needs and the needs of those staying with him).

So they have had fellowship in suffering and they have had fellowship in defending and confirming the gospel.  Together they have faced the foes of the gospel and made their defense against those who would deny and detract from it.  And for those who have believed they have been a confirmatory support, encouraging the believers and challenging them to stay faithful despite the suffering.

If Paul were to really define his affection for this church he would have to say that the affection he has is in fact the affection that Jesus has for this church funneled through Paul.  His heart is not beating alone for them.  He feels the heartbeat of Christ along with his.

The church is fighting and has broken into two factions around the viewpoints of two women, Euodia and Syntyche (4:2).  They are not feeling the affection that Christ has for all of them.  They are angry with one another.  The side that won the argument, so to speak, is happy that Epaphroditus has delivered the money to Paul but those who disagreed with this choice can point to the fact that Epaphroditus has nearly died in the process (2:27).  But Paul and Jesus love all of them deeply and long for them to be united behind the gospel that they all so ably defended and confirmed.

It is so difficult in the midst of conflict to feel loving toward those you are in conflict with.  It is crucial that you sense and join in the love Jesus has for each of you.  You may see the selfishness and foolishness of your brother’s perspective but Jesus sees two precious children whom he loves deeply and whom he yearns to be at peace.  The conflict, though real, is nothing compared to what you share together in Christ’s gospel and serving that gospel together should be your highest priority.

The only way to bring your feelings back to a yearning for one another is to recognize what you share in Christ.  Paul had feelings about their conflict.  No doubt those who wanted to send him the money thought Paul would side with them and maybe be angry with those who didn’t want to send him aid.  We’ll see, however, that Paul faulted both sides (4:10-20) for letting this issue tear them apart and he equally loved both factions and longed for unity above all.

How many a church conflict has failed at this point to see and feel the love of Jesus for all!  Jesus is passionately for us and his love spills out into our souls as we fellowship with him.  As a child falls in love with the sport or music or friends of his father and mother, so we fall in love with who Jesus loves.  When we sense his delight in someone welling up inside of us, we too love with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. When was the first time you fell in love?
2. What do you think made Paul fall in love with the Philippians?
3. Have you ever developed a bond with someone by working with them toward a common goal and if so, what seemed to make that happen?
4. What about conflict with someone challenges the bond you have with them?
5. Is there someone you are experiencing conflict with right now or someone you are avoiding for some reason?
6. How is what Paul is writing apply to you and the one you are in conflict with?
7. What, if anything, do you need to do to apply this Scripture in your life right now?