“25然而，我想必须打发 以巴弗提 到你们那里去。他是我的兄弟，与我一同做工，一同当兵，是你们所差遣的，也是供给我需用的。 26他很想念你们众人，并且极其难过，因为你们听见他病了。 27他实在是病了，几乎要死；然而 神怜恤他，不但怜恤他，也怜恤我，免得我忧上加忧。 28所以我越发急速打发他去，叫你们再见他，就可以喜乐，我也可以少些忧愁。 29故此，你们要在主里欢欢乐乐地接待他，而且要尊重这样的人； 30因他为做基督的工夫，几乎至死，不顾性命，要补足你们供给我的不及之处。” 腓立比书 2:25-30
基督徒也会遭遇病痛？那简直是一定的。只是我们更愿意相信神会使用超自然的方式来保护他的儿女脱离各种患难。事实上，即使是忠心服侍的人，也难免世上的苦难，比如遭遇病痛。令我们安慰的是，就算在几乎至死的病痛中，神的恩典仍然够用，他的怜恤也不缺乏（27节）。我们不要把遭遇病痛当作生命中异常事件。当试炼到来的时候，求神给我们智慧来面对，也怜恤我们、帮助我们度过而不至于失了信心。
在今天的经文里，神的怜恤使以巴弗提从要死的病中走出来，渐渐恢复健康。同时，作为属灵长辈的保罗也意识到以巴弗提的另一个需要，因此急速打发他回家，让他从服侍中暂时退出来——这不是因为他身体上的软弱，而是因为他心里难过。诚然是身体上的软弱阻碍了以巴弗提的服侍，但他却因教会对他的担忧而心里忧愁。保罗意识到他需要更多的休息，而这休息来自于他所亲爱的弟兄姊妹的团契。腓立比教会的弟兄姊妹不仅为他忧愁，更要在主里欢欢乐乐地接待以巴弗提。
基督徒是蒙福的，因为我们有一个在困难中可以给我们支持的团体，当我们的弟兄姊妹在有需要的时候我们也可以给予支持（施比受更有福）。无论你是需要从神的怜恤中支取力量的以巴弗提，还是需要同工供给的保罗，或者是差派工人到禾场的腓立比教会的一份子，我们都可以开始留意身边是否有身体患病的或是心里难过的人，好给他们及时的关心或接待。在主的身体里，这样做可以让忧伤变为喜乐，使软弱的渐渐刚强。你们中间有你可以关心的人吗，特别是那些始终在忠心服侍的？如果这人正经历特别的患难挣扎，愿你与TA同负重担，成为神伸手医治和扶持的方法之一。
Verse 25-30
Can Christians become sick? Although the answer is yes, but we often assume that God will go out of his way to protect his children. The reality is that even for those who serve, it is also possible that their diligent service for God can come at the cost of their health. It is also true that while we are not spared the experience of deathly sickness by God, his mercy is still available for us who are in such circumstances (verse 27). We should not treat sickness as a abnormality but realise we need wisdom and mercy from God when we encounter sickness.
In today's passage, the mercy of God carried Epaphroditus through his difficult times back to health. Still, Paul as the spiritual oversight, recognises another need of Epaphroditus and forces Epaphroditus to take leave, not because he is physically down, but because he is troubled in his spirit. While it is his physical health which hampered Epaphroditus for a while, he has since recovered, but he is still troubled because his sending church is worried for him. Paul wisely recognises that he needed extra rest and the way to do that is for him to be in the fellowship with a community of Christians who are both worried for him and willing to receive him in joy (verse 26 and 29).
Christians are blessed people because we as a community can support our fellow brothers and sisters in their times of need. Whether you are a Epaphroditus who needs to draw strength from the mercy of God, or a Paul who needs to support your co-worker, or even if you are part of the Philippian church who has sent workers to serve the Lord in the field, we are to pay attention to those with sickness and troubled spirits and give special care to receiving them with honor. In this way sorrow can turn to joy, and trouble can give way to health. Is there someone in your midst you can show concern to, especially if that person is serving tirelessly? If there are particular struggles he or she is facing, might you be willing to share some of his or her burdens, and be a part of that healing process?
