Today’s passage: Philippians 4:1-3
Helpful thoughts:
- Euodia and Syntyche were two women in the church at Philippi.
- The word translated as “labored” in the ESV means, “to struggle alongside of” or “to contend”.
- These women as struggled alongside each other for the cause of Christ. But they could not do that if they continued to struggle against each other.
- Church unity matters. Our task is so important. The love of Christ compels us. May we be a people who right our wrongs and seek reconciliation.
Questions to consider:
- What positive words and terms of endearment are found (And how many can you find) in verses 1 and 3? How do they make the reality of the division in verse 2 look so out of place? Does it make any sense that brothers and sisters in Christ would be at odds with each other for very long?
- Was the feud between Euodia and Syntyche only affecting them? How does the selfishness of sin often result in us only thinking about how things prevent ourselves from getting what we want? What had been Paul’s command in chapter 2 (2:3)?
- How does Romans 12:18 help us to move forward when we have tried to make things right with others but they choose not to reconcile? Not everyone will respond in faith and love, but how can we move forward with a clear conscience and hope?