“25然而，我想必須打發 以巴弗提 到你們那里去。他是我的兄弟，與我一同做工，一同當兵，是你們所差遣的，也是供給我需用的。 26他很想念你們眾人，并且極其難過，因為你們聽見他病了。 27他實在是病了，幾乎要死；然而 神憐恤他，不但憐恤他，也憐恤我，免得我憂上加憂。 28所以我越發急速打發他去，叫你們再見他，就可以喜樂，我也可以少些憂愁。 29故此，你們要在主里歡歡樂樂地接待他，而且要尊重這樣的人； 30因他為做基督的工夫，幾乎至死，不顧性命，要補足你們供給我的不及之處。” 腓立比書 2:25-30
基督徒也會遭遇病痛？那簡直是一定的。只是我們更愿意相信神會使用超自然的方式來保護他的兒女脫離各種患難。事實上，即使是忠心服侍的人，也難免世上的苦難，比如遭遇病痛。令我們安慰的是，就算在幾乎至死的病痛中，神的恩典仍然夠用，他的憐恤也不缺乏（27節）。我們不要把遭遇病痛當作生命中異常事件。當試煉到來的時候，求神給我們智慧來面對，也憐恤我們、幫助我們度過而不至于失了信心。
在今天的經文里，神的憐恤使以巴弗提從要死的病中走出來，漸漸恢復健康。同時，作為屬靈長輩的保羅也意識到以巴弗提的另一個需要，因此急速打發他回家，讓他從服侍中暫時退出來——這不是因為他身體上的軟弱，而是因為他心里難過。誠然是身體上的軟弱阻礙了以巴弗提的服侍，但他卻因教會對他的擔憂而心里憂愁。保羅意識到他需要更多的休息，而這休息來自于他所親愛的弟兄姊妹的團契。腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹不僅為他憂愁，更要在主里歡歡樂樂地接待以巴弗提。
基督徒是蒙福的，因為我們有一個在困難中可以給我們支持的團體，當我們的弟兄姊妹在有需要的時候我們也可以給予支持（施比受更有福）。無論你是需要從神的憐恤中支取力量的以巴弗提，還是需要同工供給的保羅，或者是差派工人到禾場的腓立比教會的一份子，我們都可以開始留意身邊是否有身體患病的或是心里難過的人，好給他們及時的關心或接待。在主的身體里，這樣做可以讓憂傷變為喜樂，使軟弱的漸漸剛強。你們中間有你可以關心的人嗎，特別是那些始終在忠心服侍的？如果這人正經歷特別的患難掙扎，愿你與TA同負重擔，成為神伸手醫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?
