Philippians 2:25 “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.”
If you had five words to describe yourself, what would you say? I have actually done this recently, and it is very intriguing! It may seem difficult to describe yourself in five words, but that is about all a person gets on a tombstone. So if you had to pick five words to describe yourself, what would they be? Whether you like it or not, there are five words to describe you!
Most of the words we would think of probably have both a positive and a negative connotation. For example, if I described someone as “determined,” that sounds good. However, “determined” could mean “stubborn” and “hard-nosed,” too! God has made each of us different, and we are all gifted in different ways. Do your five words honestly describe the type of servant God wants?
Paul describes Epaphroditus in five phrases in verse 25: “brother . . . companion in labour. . . fellowsoldier . . . messenger . . . he that ministered. . . .” The relationship, the labor, the striving, the message, and the ministering were all based upon the Gospel. The book of Philippians is full of examples of people we would like to follow after. Paul, Epaphroditus, and Timothy are just a few examples found in Philippians chapter two, but the ultimate Example is found in verses 5-8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
Take a few minutes this morning to honestly evaluate yourself in five words. Don’t think of what you want to be; but think of what you are right now. If you find that your five words are not what would please the Lord, ask His help today to go about changing them!
Prayer Requests:
1. Protection and provision for staff
2. Salvation of lost teen, junior, and deaf campers
Camp Quote:
“Prosperity [in the Christian life] is not the absence of challenge.”
-Pastor Jeff Redlin