FIRST Responders
I so admire those organizations that provide aid to disaster victims. When an earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster hits, they are the first on the scene, bringing fresh water, food, blankets, temporary shelters and medical assistance. At the risk of personal loss, these brave workers, (and many of them are volunteers), leave their comfort zones and selfishly sacrifice all to save whom they can. They do not wait until there is a crisis to prepare a response. They are prepared well in advance. A friend of mine founded such an organization in Israel. When the tsunami destroyed much of the coastal area of Indonesia, with the aid of the military, they were the first NGO to bring in aid. The stories he tells are full of heroism on the part of the workers and supernatural intervention on the part of God.
The Philippian Church was such people. Their DNA was that of an “early responder”. It started with Paul. He had plans to go to Asia, but when he heard in a dream that Macedonia was calling for someone to bring them the Gospel, he changed his plans and went to Philippi. He was the first to bring the Gospel to Europe. The Church in Philippi was founded on two important conversions; Lydia, who held a women’s prayer meeting at the banks of the river, and the jailor, who Paul kept from committing suicide, as a result of an earthquake. These were the early responders to the Gospel in Europe.
From Philippi, Paul went to Thessalonica and it was the Philippian church that was the first to send him financial support for this new church plant. Just as Paul had been jailed for preaching the Gospel, the church, in Philippi, also suffered persecution resulting in extreme economic lack. When Paul was collecting offerings to help those in need in Jerusalem, the Philippians insisted on participating in this offering as well. Paul did not expect them to, seeing how many were suffering extreme poverty, but they were responders. It was part of their DNA. They gave with joy and gave beyond their means.
When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, many believers distanced themselves from him, for fear of persecution and personal loss, but not the Philippians. They continued their support and even sent one of their own, Epaphroditus, to bring Paul the financial support he needed and to serve him while he was in prison. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the religious leaders passed by the man, who had been robbed and beaten. They closed their ears and hearts to his cry. The Samaritan, like the Philippian church, could not do this. He had a heart of love and was sensitive to hearing and responding to the needs of others.
To be an early responder, you must be filled with love. Paul constantly prayed that love would grow and abound in the church at Philippi. Without love, there is indifference. An indifferent heart hears of needs, and may sigh in pity, but there is no response. The Gospel is the Good News. It is Jesus giving all to save us from our sins and eternal damnation. His Love reached us in our darkest hour. He hears our cries and responds. This is the love that was poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is the love the constrains us to reach out to others. We cannot wait for a more convenient time and for just the right conditions. We must be early responders.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Phil. 1.1-11; 4.15-20; Luke 10.25-37; I John 3.16; Acts 16.25-40