To the Saints in Christ Jesus......!!!!!!

Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. - Philippians 1:1

In this account we see Paul identify the body of Christ in the city of Philippi. The Philippians were a group of believers in Christ Jesus. Have you ever thought how Paul would address us today. UNITY of the Body was a strong theme Paul wrote about to the early believers.

I would be surprised if Paul wrote to a particular denomination exclusively. I believe he would have penned the letter to the particular city you lived in and said, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, etc. The important thing was that they were followers of Christ JESUS and position, status, or office was not important. The Head being Christ Jesus in our lives was critical in Paul's opening greetings.

I would challenge us to see the Body of Christ in your city as bigger than where you may worship throughout the week. Our programs, buildings, creeds, traditions, services, gymnasiums, numbers, etc. would not likely be found in the first two verses of the introduction by Paul to our city..... Those in our city dying without Christ, need us to be reaching out to them with Christ Jesus at the center. The Word tells us they will know us by our LOVE...When was the last time you extended Love to the city around you? To the neighborhood around you? To the believers around you? To the family around you?

Today, make this personal. Ask yourself as a Follower of Christ Jesus in the city of.... how you are taking ownership of what the WORD, that became flesh, has modeled for us. He may ask you to do something outside of the box, outside of the current socially acceptable practice to reach the people for Him.

Blessings,
Todd