A couple of the women within
the church at Philippi were having a dispute to which Paul exhorted
them to “be of the same mind in the Lord”. In chapter four
and verse three of his letter to the Philippians, Paul “entreats”
those who were “yoke-fellows” and “fellow-laborers”
with him. We read:
And
I entreat you also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which labored
with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my
fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
The
verse begins, “And I entreat you also, true yoke-fellow,
help those women which labored with me in the gospel,...” The
idea behind the word “entreat”
is “ask or beg“, and Paul uses “entreat”
to address his “true yoke-fellow” which
is a “consort, comrade, colleague, partner“.
We are unclear as to whom this person is, but he or she is to “help
those women which labored”
with him “in the gospel”.
As we can easily see there were women within the church in Philippi
who were profitable toward the sharing of the “good news” of
Jesus Christ. Though Euodias and Syntyche were disputing, there were
other women who were to be helped in their efforts within the church.
The
verse continues, “...with Clement also, and with
other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book
of life.” Paul names “Clement”
which means “mild and merciful“ “with other my
fellow-laborers” or
“companions in work or fellow workers“
to add to those who might help him. Paul knew these “fellow
workers” in the church would assist him, and he identifies them as
those “whose names are written in the book of life”.
The “book of life”
is mentioned in the book of Revelation over and over again. The
following verses in Revelation include writings about it: 3:5, 13:8,
17:8, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27, and 22:19. There is obviously an advantage
eternally for their names to be written in this wonderful book.
Do
we have those in our lives to whom we would refer to as
“yoke-fellows” or
“fellow-laborers”
in the gospel? Do we know their names are written in the “book of
life”? Would we be considered by others as a “consort, comrade,
colleague or partner” in the gospel? As we think about Paul's
words, perhaps our attention should be drawn toward aligning
ourselves with others who are in the faith for the help and promotion
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was a great concern for Paul the
apostle as he wrote to the Philippians, and as with the Philippians
we have no better exhorter in the Lord than he.
Next
time Paul tells the yoke-fellows and fellow-laborers what he wants
them to do, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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