With the Affection of Jesus Christ
“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8).
Our church motto is "With the Affection of Jesus Christ." The key verse for our motto is Philippians 1:8, which states, "God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Our goal is to love our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ. How can we love our neighbors? I would like to receive teachings on three aspects and hope that both you and I diligently obey them.
First, let us all love our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Look at Philippians 1:8 - "God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Expressing our love for our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ means desiring our neighbors with the love of Jesus. Here, desiring our neighbors can be understood in two ways:
- We must yearn our neighbors with the love of Jesus.
Consider Jeremiah 31:20 – “’Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore, my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,’ declares the Lord.” When God the Father rebukes and speaks against us, His beloved children, He still deeply thinks of us. And the heart of God the Father is moved with compassion for us. The Bible says, "My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him" (v. 20). Following the example of God the Father, who regards us with compassion and delight, we should also compassionately and affectionately regard our neighbors in our love for them.
- Expressing our love for our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ means we should jealously desire our neighbors.
Look at James 4:5 – “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?’” The Bible states that the Holy Spirit dwelling within us jealously longs for us. As the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love within us, He enables us to jealously love our neighbors, fostering affection. Therefore, in our love and affection for our neighbors, we must jealously desire them. It is essential to note that in the context of relationships, there is not only negative envy but also positive envy that should be present, similar to how God, with a jealous love, desires us, His people. In our marital relationships, just as we are called to desire one another with God's jealousy, this is true marital love. Likewise, we should love and cherish our neighbors.
Second, let us all pray for our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Look at Philippians 1:9-11: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." What is the highest expression of love that we can show for our neighbors? It is prayer. If we have the affection of Jesus Christ, loving and desiring our neighbors, we should first do what for our neighbors? It is to kneel down and pray to God the Father for our neighbors. Praying, we must earnestly lift our hearts to God the Father for our neighbors, especially those facing pain and adversity. Praying, we should persistently seek God's intervention until our prayers are answered. The Apostle Paul did this for the saints in the Philippian church, as seen in Philippians 1:4. He prayed for them, not just once or twice, but "always" (v. 4). This indicates that Paul always thought of the saints in the Philippian church (verse 3) and, whenever he thought of them, he earnestly prayed to God for them. He thanked God each time he prayed (v. 3), and he joyfully made requests for them (v. 4). The reason was that they had been actively participating in the work for the gospel since the first day (v. 5). Furthermore, when Paul prayed for the saints in the Philippian church, he did so with confidence in his heart. What was that confidence? Look at Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Paul had confidence because he knew that the Lord, who made a covenant with them, had already begun a good work (the work of salvation) in the saints of the Philippian church and would complete it. Praying with such confidence, thanksgiving, and joy, Paul specifically prayed for the saints in the Philippian church, focusing on "love" (v. 9). What kind of love? Love that abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Paul prayed for this purpose so that the outcome would be that the saints in the Philippian church could discern what is best, be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, and be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, ultimately glorifying and praising God (vv. 9-11).
We too should offer such prayers to God the Father for our neighbors. We should earnestly implore God the Father to abundantly produce the fruit of love in our neighbors. In our prayers, let us ask that the love of our neighbors may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment. Therefore, let us pray that we, along with you, may be established as Christ-followers who discern what is excellent, being sincere and blameless, living lives worthy of the gospel.
Third and last, let us all actively participate in the work of spreading the gospel with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Look at Philippians 1:5 - "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." When the Apostle Paul thought about the saints of the Philippian church, he thanked God. And whenever he prayed for them, he prayed with joy (vv. 3-4). The reason was that the saints of the Philippian church had been actively participating in Paul's gospel work since the beginning (v. 5). This specifically means that the saints of the Philippian church had provided material support needed for Paul's gospel preaching (Yoon-seon Park). In addition, they would have participated in prayer for Paul's gospel proclamation (MacDonald). Therefore, let all of us actively participate even more in the work of the gospel. Let us continue to pray for and financially support the missionaries supported by our church. Let us pray and provide material support for Pastor Gomez and his wife, who are doing missionary work in Tijuana, Mexico, and Elder Yoon and Missionary Harry and Ryan, who are involved in medical missions and theological education in the Philippines. Also, let us continue to pray and financially support Missionary Manny Kim and others who are doing missionary work in Ensenada, Mexico. Additionally, let us pray and provide both prayer and financial support for the missionary couple and their family who are serving in Arizona State University. Let us pray and provide prayer and financial support for Pastor Choi and his family, as well as the theology students, at True Love Church in Mongolia. Furthermore, one important task that all of us, as a church, should engage in with the affection of Jesus Christ is evangelism. Let us pray and actively reach out to our neighbors and the people in our local community with a compassionate heart for those who do not know Jesus. Let us put effort into inviting them to the church. May the remaining days of our lives be dedicated to putting more effort into spreading the gospel.