Philippians 1:12-14 Sisters and Brothers through Christ

Philippians 1:12-14
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
From my daily devotional “Mornings with Bonhoeffer”
Bonhoeffer writes: One is a brother or sister to another only through Jesus Christ. I am a brother or sister to another person through what Jesus Christ has done for me and to me; others have become brothers and sisters to me through what Jesus Christ has done for them and to them. . . . Our community consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us.”
I tend to be a visual learner so when I hear or read of a concept, I immediately form some type of visual representation in my mind. This doesn’t always work out to something that I can externally articulate. But Bonhoeffer’s explanation of our sibling relationship to each other made me visualize a spoked wheel. Particularly a bicycle or wagon wheel. The spokes of a wheel work together to keep the wheel’s shape, but they can only accomplish this because of what the hub does for each of the spokes. It is through the hub that the spokes can accomplish their task and how they maintain their relationship with each other. Without the hub they are just a bunch of wires in the case of a bicycle wheel or pieces of wood in the case of a wagon wheel.
Christian sisters and brothers can only accomplish spreading the Gospel or doing good works because of what Christ has already done for us. Bonhoeffer says “Our community consists solely in what Christ has done for both of us.” Both sister and brother.
In this time while we are separated physically, we are still tied to each other through our hub which is Jesus Christ. We are still a community.

Peace and Blessings


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