Philippians 4:21-23
New American Standard Version
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Pastor’s Paraphrase
I send my heartfelt greetings to all of the family of believers. My fellow believers and companions here join me in sending these greetings to you. In fact, all of the brothers here join us in greeting you – especially those who are a part of the royal family of Rome and have now become a part of the royal family of heaven through their faith in Christ. May the glorious grace of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ dwell in you by the Holy Spirit. Amen and amen!
“How does this help me become more like Him?”
We relate to people on different levels. When we get on an elevator with someone, we don’t immediately begin telling them our life story and become best friends between the sixth and first floors. When we are in the checkout line with someone at the grocery store, we might begin a casual and superficial conversation but very soon we will forget about them and they will forget about us. Someone has said these are “marble” relationships. We just kind of roll around in life and bounce off of other people without making any kind of meaningful connection.
There is another level that we relate to people that has been called the “grapes” level. Not only do we come in contact with these people but we interact with them and become a part of their lives and they become a part of ours. We share ourselves with them and them with us in such a way that the “juices” intermingle to make the “new wine” of community – they become like family to us.
Some people don’t do “grapes” very well. They are afraid to blend their lives with others because that requires risk. For them, it’s safer and easier to keep almost everyone else on the “marble” level. They just roll through life “clinking” against other people, trying not to collide so hard that someone breaks into sharp, jagged edges that cut and wound.
The problem with this is that the Christian life is not meant to be lived as a “marble” but as a “grape” that contributes to and becomes a part of the “new wine of the Spirit”. The life of Christ’s followers become what He intended only when their lives are shared with other believers in love, compassion, fellowship, accountability, encouragement, and the common celebration of each other’s victories and the shared burdens of each other’s crises. We grow and mature and become wise in spiritual things only as we drink the “wine of shared lives” and the “juices” of life’s struggles and experiences are lived in common with a group of like minded believers.
So, my question for you today is this – are you rolling through life like a “marble”, content to bounce off of others and keep the things of your life separate and segregated from others? Or are you instead a “grape” – deeply involved in the lives of a group of fellow believers? Are you a part of their lives on a deeper level than “grocery store line” conversation? Do you hurt when they hurt and help when they have need? Are there others who truly know you and pray for you and lift you up when you’re wounded or struggling? Do you have a small group of fellow believers who have become to you like the Philippians were to Paul – your family?
If you don’t, you haven’t yet discovered what the Lord wants for you in the Christian life. “Marble living” is not His way! He wants you to drink the “new wine” of Christian community. It’s where real life is shared and nourished.
“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”
If you are not a part of a small Bible Fellowship group, pray that the Lord would lead you to one very soon where you could share life with other believers. If you are a part of one, thank Him for what these “family members” mean in your life and pray that you will be everything to that group that He wants you to be. Give Him praise for how He works in your life through your fellow believers.
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