As Paul the apostle wrote to
the church located in Philippi, he desire that they follow after him
as they observed him following after Jesus Christ. He knew there were
those who were among them who would attempt to alter the church
members' walk with Jesus, and in chapter three and verse eighteen
Paul informs the church members that these people were “enemies
of the cross of Christ”. We read:
(For many walk, of whom
I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they
are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
The
verse begins, “(For many walk, of whom I have told you
often, and now tell you even weeping,...” After
giving the Philippians instruction that would help them in their
relationships with God, Paul lets them know parenthetically “For
many walk” which means “large
groups or much people, make their way, progress or use
opportunities” “of whom I have told you often” or “as
I have spoken, affirmed, advised, commanded or directed you about
them frequently”. Paul gave insight to his care and concern when he
wrote “and now tell you even weeping” which
means he told them while “moaning, lamenting, bewailing and while
weeping as the sign of pain and grief for the thing signified”. No
doubt Paul the apostle cared greatly for what he was about to say
unto them.
The
verse goes on to say, “...that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ:” Paul revealed his anguish
because of those who “walk” as “enemies” or
“hating, hostile, and opposing” “the cross of Christ”.
These foes to the “cross of Christ” or the gospel of Jesus
Christ caused Paul great grief and anguish, and he desired that the
Philippians know about their desire to draw them away from their
relationship with Him. Though Paul shared the gospel because of the
“cross of Christ”, these foes were set against it.
As we
think about Paul's words concerning “weeping” over the “enemies
of the cross of Christ”, perhaps our minds will go back to the time
when he also was as an enemy of Jesus. We read in the book of Acts in
chapter nine and verse one and two:
And Saul, yet breathing
out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to
the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were
men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
It may be that this was part of the
reason for Paul's tears. He knew what it was to be an enemy of the
cross of Christ. Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew in chapter
twelve and verse thirty, “He that is not with me is
against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.”,
and again in the gospel of Luke in chapter eleven and verse
twenty-three, “He that is not with me is against me: and he that
gathers not with me scatters.” People
who are not for “the cross of Christ”
are as “enemies”
against it. The questions we should ponder is “Do we weep for
them?” “Do we weep because of them?” “Are we as concerned as
Paul was for those who might be influence from their adverse ways?”
As we consider these things, may the Lord Jesus create within us the
passion and care that was exhibited by Paul when he thought about the
“enemies of the cross of Christ”,
and may our eyes be filled with tears over those over whom they have
influence.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians the fate of the enemies of the cross
of Christ, 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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