"Help These Women"

Philippians 4: 1-3

(1) Therefore, 

When there's a "therefore" we need to understand what it's there for: 

We saw yesterday that we were to live our lives according to the pattern God has showed us in Jesus and in Paul. 

my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 

These brothers and sisters in Philippi are so dear to Paul, he really loves them deeply. He misses them and wants them to grow into spiritual maturity. 

(2) I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 

These two women were apparently quarreling. He didn't ask them if they wanted to make up, he simply encouraged them to make allowances so they could live in harmony, as sisters in the Lord. To live according to God's pattern.

(3) Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, 

And he asked a brother there to counsel with them, and help them learn how to get along with each other. Both of these sisters had helped Paul in his founding of this church, and he knew they needed to resolve whatever issues they had and put aside anything that irritated each other; and that they could need counseling to work through this.

together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Euodia and Syntyche and Clement and all the other Christian brothers and sisters there had been helpful to Paul in all the myriad and sundry things that needed to be done in the founding of the church there at Philippi, and Paul had come to love them all very dearly. He had won them to Christ and let them know that Jesus had put their names into His book of eternal life. And he wanted them to all get along as family members and be able to work effectively together in the work of the Lord. 

When there are two people in the same congregation who are not getting along with each other, someone in that assembly needs to confront them and work with them to be able to get along and work together. Don't ask them if they want to work on it, encourage them to share what it is between them, and help them work it out. Counseling is sometimes necessary to help two people face what is separating them, and if it's really serious, they may even need to "agree to disagree" in an agreeable manner. 

And if either has a bad attitude, then they sould be encouraged to forgive and give grace, and change their thinking to think God's thoughts. 

We all need to submit to the Lord, and learn of Him as our example, and follow His attitudes with our own. Even if it means changing our thinking about some long-held views. 

O my Father, please help us all to be able to get along with one another in this broken world. We all have issues because of the brokenness of our own human nature, and we need Your remedies for all of our maladies. 

Father, I pray that You would reach Your healing hand down to Your children, and mend our deficiencies and shortcomings. Heal our physical and mental and emotional and spiritual ills, to mold and make us into the pure, perfect character of Christ.

Help us to live our lives here and now as royal children of the King, granting others the grace allowances to be able to get close enough to make a difference in their lives, to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow up into the full stature of the Son of God. 

Then send us out, my Father, into all the world, broadcasting the good seed of Your gospel, so that everyone will know how much You love us all, and want every one of us to be in Your family. 

So that all Your embryonic children will come to the birth, and no one will have any excuse. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!