Philippians and Good Friday

On this #goodfriday #friday, I found myself in Philippians and Colossians, where I was reminded of how a "real Christian" is supposed to act. If we seek and knock the door will be opened.

Paul was headed on his second missionary journey to Turkey when he received a dream from an angel, telling him to go to Macedonia. Macedonia was pagan, but exiled Christians found themselves on the washed up shores of the region, where they told others about Christ. There was a group of women who received bits and pieces of Jesus and the Gospel but didn't fully understand. Of these women were Lydia, a very wealthy woman who dealt in purple cloth. They prayed to God, asking for a fuller understanding of what these Christians were saying. Hence the reason Paul had the dream to go to Macedonia. If we seek and knock the door will be opened. God answered these womens' prayers and sent Paul to share the Gospel with them. For us, we're reminded in Philippians the importance of living for Christ, unity in the body- letting go of division and infighting, pressing on toward the goal, that we have a home in heaven, and to be united in prayer.

Some scholars say that the church at Philippi was Paul's favorite church, where he could really be himself. The people there provided for his needs, they were an outlet where he could share his struggles, he blessed them, and they re-fueled him.