Philippians 1:7-8

“I have you in my heart.”

Today I’m at home and not at church coz I have the most awful headache—though it’s due to my new glasses, and I knew that I would get a headache from them. Anyway, I thought I do a bible study, because I’m enjoying Philippians so much! And it will help me to concentrate on something altogether much better than this silly headache.

So, let’s get started!

“just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.”

Paul is getting in deeper now. He has already said, “I have you in my mind” and now he is saying something that shows a wonderful and intense love for his brethren that can only come from Christ. For we can have others in our minds, but how many of us have others in our hearts?

I love what a Mr. Warren W. Wiersbe says about this love for the brethren that Paul has: Love is evidence of salvation. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.” (1John 3:14)

We cannot try to work up our own kind of “love-the-brethren” love, it must come from Christ. And only from Him.

“For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”

You all. He has said that 3 times now, because Paul doesn’t leave anyone out. He didn’t pick and choose and say, “Well, some of you I long for and some of you...well, you don’t really count.” No! He loved every single one in that church with the love of Christ Jesus. And he was willing to suffer for them. Are we willing to suffer for Christ and the church? For the sake of the Gospel?

Let’s all pray for open and soft hearts and that we would focus on Him and others!