Joy of Affection

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Philippians 4:1

We all have people who occupy a special place in your heart. Perhaps we seldom see them or talk to them, but they are on our mind and in our prayers often. That's how Paul regarded the Philippian believers, and it was right for him to do so because they were such an integral part of his life and ministry. They stood by him in every situation-even during his judicial proceedings and imprisonment in Rome.

The gratitude and joy Paul felt was more than an emotion. It was a moral obligation to praise God for what He had accomplished through them. Take a look at the following passage "It is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:7- 8).That is the meaning of the Greek word translated "right" in Philippians 1:7. "Heart" refers to the center of one's thoughts and feelings (See Proverbs 4:23).

Paul thought of the Philippians often and eagerly yearned for them with the affection of Christ Himself. As we see In Philippians 4:1 he calls them, "My beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown." The mutual affection between Paul and the Philippians illustrates that often the strongest and deepest relationships are developed among Christian's in ministry. There is a special camaraderie among people who work toward life's most noble goals and see God achieve eternal results through their efforts. Guard those relationships carefully and cultivate as God leads.