Sharing in God's Grace

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:7-8

Paul, here, is expressing his longing to be with ministry partners that are not with him. Boy, can I relate to this. I have lots of good friends where I live - lots of ministry partners. But I have a very, very dear friend that lives way too far away.

Our friendship began as God was changing our lives. He saved her out of the bondage of sin as He was saving me out of the bondage of legalism. In a since, we were both starting fresh with God. We were starting from two different angles, and that caused us to continually challenge each other. From the day we became friends, our conversations have always centered around what God is doing. It has always been the basis for our friendship.

At the time, we lived in the same town, went to the same church, were apart of the same college group, had many of the same dreams....but life took very different turns for us. I married and quickly had four kids. God kept her single for several more years. She finished college, went to seminary, spent two years teaching English in Sudan.

For many years, we didn't really have much in common, but our relationship with God. But that was enough. Now we live 2,028 miles apart (not that I'm counting), and I literally long to be with her....and it is right for us to feel that way about each other because whatever we do, we are sharing in God's grace. Whatever we do, we are partners in the gospel.