Results...

Results…. I like to see them quick, or else I usually get discouraged. It is something I struggle with……walking in obedient faith.

Faith is not being sure of what we see. It is not hoping intensely for what we hope for…not wishful thinking, or even positive thinking. It is “being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.”(Hebrews 11:1)





Tonight, since sleep alludes me, I open the scriptures and begun reading about Paul and his companions beginning a second trip to find people who might listen and respond to the message of Jesus the Christ.


“…..we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony. It is an important city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there several days.”(Acts 16:12)

Several days. What can be accomplished in a mere ‘several days’?

I’ll tell you the most recent thing.

It started when this little band of mission minded, sold-out-to-Jesus, born-again sons of God traveled to Philippi and stayed a few days. Paul ministered there and some years later wrote a letter to those same people.

That letter is the book of Phillipians in our Bible.

And that letter has brought me more encouragement than I can recall….these being just a few.

“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”(1:6)

“…this is my (Paul’s) 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..”(1:9-10)

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”(2:4,5)

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.(2:12,13)

“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..”(3:8)

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me….Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal ”(3:10,12,14)

“…. our citizenship is in heaven…He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. ”(3:20,21)




“ Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer …. present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you. (4:4-9)

Thank you my brother Paul…for going to Phillipi and staying for ‘several days’….for getting acquainted with those people to whom you later wrote this letter. I can’t tell you have many times I’ve read it and been encouraged by your words…by knowing that even you struggled, by hearing how you dealt with difficulty, from your admonishments to rejoice, to pray, to think on excellent things…

You could never have known the results…you certainly didn’t see them.