It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart …
Summary: Paul continues his introductory remarks by explaining why he feels so strongly about the Philippians.
Emotions are a tricky thing. As people, we are susceptible to being emotionally needy.
To some extent, everyone is emotionally needy before they meet Jesus. We all need to be reunited with our Father, God.
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is a story about an unmet need that remained hidden until foolish action revealed it.
In the story, a man’s son arrogantly demands his inheritance before his father is even dead. Amazingly, the father gives the son what he wants, and the son goes away. From the son’s perspective, he was free of the old man and everything he represented. From the father’s perspective his son was dead because of the way he had rejected the father.
Time passes.
For a while, the son has a great time on his father’s money. Everybody is his friend until the money is gone, and then, unsurprisingly, nobody shows him any interest.
Suddenly, he is in need.
His obvious need is physical. He is hungry and has no money to buy food. Coming to his senses he says to himself, “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” (Verses 18-19)
His words show us that he recognizes his emotional need. He has done wrong, and he wants to repent. He doesn’t dare hope to be reunited with his father, but he believes his father will at least treat him as he would a hired hand.
The story doesn’t tell us about the son’s reaction to his father, but it does reveal the father’s emotions for his son. When he comes home, the father welcomes him with open arms, overjoyed that his son, who was dead, is now alive again.
Paul shares the father’s need for his children. Paul’s children, of course, are his churches, and the church in Philippi has a special place in his heart. Later in his letter, we see that they have been in contact with each other (Philippians 2:19-30). It appears that the Philippians’ concern for him has stirred Paul’s emotions to the point where he feels the need to justify them when he says, “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you …”
Application: Returning to the Father through Jesus Christ brings emotional healing.
Food for Thought: How do emotions bind us to God?
We are told to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22: 37). In other words, love Him with all of who we are. This includes our emotions.
I have emotions for my wife. If I didn’t, I suppose I could be like Spock and just base everything off of logic. But we were created with emotions and it is part of who we are as humans created in the image of a God Who also has emotions. My wife wants me to have an emotional bond with her so that the relationship can flourish. Relationships need emotion to thrive. It does bind us to the one we are in relationship to – including our relationship with God.
Thank you, Rich!
Emotional bonds are powerful and when grounded in God’s love, life giving! 🙂
We are created in God’s image. Our emotions also bear the image of God, for in the Bible He expresses love, anger, joy, sorrow, compassion, and jealousy. The difference in His expression and ours is that His are expressed righteously, whereas ours are oftentimes expressed in terms of how circumstances affect us. When we let go of self-centered motivations, and express our emotions in the love of Christ, we are drawn closer to God. In that sense, our emotions become as God intended them, to bind us closer to Him through Christ.
Amen, Chris!
Thank you!!
.How do emotions bind us to God?
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25
We live in a world filled with uncertainty as we are blasted with one crises after another. Where gathering things which provide a false, ever fading sense of security is a full time job. Accumulating the temporary is up, watching them decay is down. Stability and true rest are foreign concepts to all who are strapped to life in/of this world.
God calls to all mankind:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
All who respond to Gods call will find His word is true. Will for the first time begin to experience LIFE as God intends for His people. To experience the removal of all the burdens of this world of flesh, being replaced by the spiritual freedom provided by God brings previously unknown joy to our spirits. We are bound to God by the love He has extended toward us while we were deep in sin, eternally grateful for the freedom He has freely given us, and there is no longer any power on this earth that can take us away from Him.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Thank you, Ron!
I love the way you put it today: Responding to God’s call, being in relationship with him, opens the door to real living for the first time in our lives. That is the foundation for an unbreakable emotional connection with our Father.