I’m back again!  It grieved me to miss a week with you.  I simply could not write or even get on the website.  I’ve been suffering from some pain that has made it very difficult to think clearly.  I have been frustrated and discouraged, but God has meet me time and time again in my pain.  Little did I know, but God began teaching me a lesson that would sustain me through weeks of pain.

I had been studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians and didn’t think much of Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God every time I remember you,” until I read a statement about that verse that rubbed me the wrong way.  It stated that Paul gave thanks for the Philippians’ help.  I kept thinking, “But that’s not what it says!”  Paul gives thanks because of the people, not their help.  He doesn’t even mention their assistance at that point in the letter.

This seemingly nit-picky detail continued to badger me until I took some time to consider it.  Is this matter important, and if so, why?  I soon realized this little detail is actually quite powerful.  If we jump to the end of the letter, Paul does address the Philippian’s assistance (4:10-19).  However, Paul never specifically identifies the gift.  This is not a traditional thank you note where one says, “Thank you Grandma for the $10.”  Instead, Paul says (4:10a), “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.”  Even here, Paul seemingly minimizes the thing and highlights the personal aspect.

This clued me into Paul’s heart and opened my eyes to a new paradigm.  Paul looked past the gift in the hand and saw the giver.  He was thankful for the giver.  He praised God that the giver had the heart, insight, and generosity to care for another.  The gift was almost irrelevant.  It simply served as an indication of the person’s character.  And THAT’S what he was thankful for.

This has challenged me to not fixate on the gifts that might be bestowed on me.  The gift is a means, not an end.  If I focus on a gift, a thing, I lose sight of the relationship.  Life is not about things, it’s about people.  Look past the gift to see the heart.  Praise God for how He is working in each other and how He has created one another.

I did not know that God was about to take this one step deeper.  I was about to have a gift taken away.  I have long recognized my desire to study the Bible and share what I’ve learned to be a spiritual gift.  When the pain came on, my ability to think and read went off.  I was left in a fog.  To say it was disorientating would be an understatement.  I realized I put much of my value and identity in what was actually a gift.  I had to step back and look away from the gift that had been taken from me and focus on the Giver.  I had to focus on His face and character, and not what was in His hand.

I wish I could say I learned my lesson and I’m all fine now, but that’s not the case.  Apparently, I have more to learn.  I’m simply grateful to have another opportunity and clarity to share with you again.  Ha! But’s that’s a gift, now isn’t it?  I thank God that we mature in Him together.  It’s a partnership.  Thank you for joining me in this journey.  I’d love to hear from you.  Think of help or a gift you’ve recently received.  Tell me what’s special about the giver; a characteristic, trait, or why they thought to give you the gift.

Scripture for this week:
Philippians – This letter is broken into 4 chapters.  Try reading a chapter a day.

Related post on Philippians:  Strength in Life