INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself  what is the cause-effect relationship in this verse?
I see Paul rejoicing greatly in the Lord because of the Philippians concern for him even though they had no opportunity to show it at the time.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
I learned the importance of showing concern for others because not only does it help and make the person happy who we are showing concern for but also it moves people to rejoice greatly in the Lord that concern has been shown. It is so important to show active concern more than passive concern. With the Lord's help, that can happen! Thank you so much Jesus. Our family has been so touched and we rejoice greatly in the Lord for the concern so many people have actively showed us what we have been going through after losing a job of 22 years, getting a letter our lease will not be renewed, growing pains in online publishing ministry, fundraising, etc. Through it all, we see the concern of others for our lives. We need to do the same and show concern for those we are able to who are suffering especially now amidist the COVID-19 virus. Help us Lord Jesus.

My most memorable memory to this date is the concern four students showed me when I was on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. When the need is extremely great and help arrives that moment is etched in memory forever.

Years ago, I was terribly burdened, moving stuff by myself from Shadyside to Sq. Hill and yet I did not want to burden any of the students that I was serving so I decided to do it on my own. I did not even ask for their help to move but just  to pray for me. Without me knowing, the students I ministered to at Pitt  showed up at my doorstep because they were deeply concerned for me. They cancelled their Bible study on 'service to others', so they could become a service to me. When I think about that encounter, I still get 'tears of joy' for what they did especially in the circumstances. It is one thing to help out when asked for help and another thing to help out when no help is asked but knowing that person needs help. I fell in the second category.

It was around finals weeks when Sara, Jonathan, David, and Josh showed up at my doorstep to help me not only pack, but clean out my apartment, and move all the stuff to Squirrel Hill. I insisted they leave because I did not want to burden them but they wanted to carry my burden. They stayed for almost 3 hours from 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. to clean out my apartment and pack everything. Then two of them, David and Josh came back the next day to pack everything into a truck, transport them to Sq. Hill, and unloaded all of them.

Being the staff volunteer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) at the time, I wanted to be the one concerned for the welfare of the students but they turned the tables around and unexpectedly showed concern for me their staff worker in the most practical way that I can never forget. They showed what the love of Jesus Christ acted out in a daily life means and put into effect everything they learned about what a small group community that loves Jesus so much can do.  Even my Chinese roomate who had to move out was shocked. He asked me about them. When I told them, they were from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, his response was 'NO WONDER!'

For me, Sara (the president of PITT-IVCF),  Jonathan (the vice-president of PITT-IVCF, Becky (the former VP of PITT-IVCF),  Josh (Worship leader of PITT-IVCF, and David (Bible study leader of PITT-IVCF) embodied some of the elements of the signature passage of IVCF small groups from Acts 2:42-47:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

This past month we have been blessed how Pastor Josh & Courtney, Pastor Mike & Jeanne, Pastor Bucknell & Linda, and Pastor Hugo & Heather, Rodney & Suzanne, Elise & Calvin, Nelson & Magda, Steve & Phoebe, etc have been there for us in different ways during our trying times. Thank you Jesus.

I want the Lord Jesus to help me discern the concerns of others even when they don't ask but need help and help them out. I want Acts 2:42-47 to be a reality in my own life so others can see that it is because of the Savior's work in me. 

For that to happen, I need to love the Lord Jesus so much and be in a community of believers who love the Lord Jesus so much that they care, share, and pray for one another.

It is amazing to be cared for, prayed for, and sharing of the life with one another. It all starts with Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus Christ and His love for us for what He did to redeem us from the power of sin and death that we can be a loving community that lives by its acts.

Friend, showing concern to others will not always be easy and will also require sacrifice but the dividends are worth it especially knowing that your concern for others can impact their life and also bring rejoicing before the Lord. Thank you Jesus.

I ask you now dear friend, why show C.O.N.C.E.R.N for others in life?
Dear friend, it is through your caring actions you show concern. Showing concern for others in life shows your own love for them and the Lord's love for them because He uses vessels such as you and me to impact people's lives. You can be the one to show concern for someone today. It maybe someone who is dealing with spiritual questions, it could be someone dealing with life's missed opportunities, it could be someone in a broken relationship, it could be someone who is dealing with the COVID-19 sickness, it could be some who is struggling financially especially during the COVID-19.

Whatever the reason, you have been put at this place for such a time as this because the Lord Jesus wants to use you. Trust in the Lord and move forward. People are so scared of contracting COVID-19 that they may make relationships suffer too. That is not how it should be. I am amazed how Mother Theresa worked among the leper colony in India to show concern for the downtrodden last century. It is her love for Jesus that prompted her.

Jesus has such a concern for the lost, for the poor, for the downtrodden, for the brokenhearted, for the captives, etc. That is why Jesus came and He wants to use you and me to bring others to Jesus.

"Jesus said, 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'" (Luke 4:19-20, NIV)

People are lost everywhere and people are so concerned but we have the opportunity to alleviate that concern when we show them Jesus Christ in their  lives. But to even have that opportunity, we need to have the help of the Holy Spirit so He can give us His grace to have the power, purpose, peace, and promises to accomplish all He set us out to do. Thank you Jesus! This happens first and foremost because we have been pardoned by Him by His blood and given the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us when we turn to Him .

I do not know who the Lord Jesus has placed a concern in your heart for but take that concern daily to the Lord in prayer and have Him work in your life to show concern. You very well maybe the person that someone needs right now.

As Dwight Smith, a missionary reminded us at OIF long time ago, we need to take every opportunity the Lord Jesus gives us because missed opportunities prevent us from being a blessing to others. You and I can be that blessing when we ask the Lord Jesus to show us who to be concerned for in our sphere of influence and act upon that concern. There are a lot of people that need our help.

Having worked in a campus community, I see the concerns of different students and my heart goes out to them. Some have concerns with food allergies, others with their relationship with the Lord, with family, friends, education, being homesick away from their families of another country, etc.

These are concerns that the Lord is concerned about too and has given us opportunities to alleviate other people's concerns. You can be the one to do that at times with just PRAYER if you do not have opportunities to directly help out.

Speaking of ministry, you may have someone in your life that has ministered to you but now they need ministering too. Take that opportunity to minister to them. There are so many who do ministry and then there are those who specifically have ministered to you personally. It is those that you can let know that you are concerned and care for them. It could be a family member who has ministered to you, a friend who has ministered to you, a pastor who has ministered to you, etc. You could be on the receiving end a lot but you have the wonderful opportunity to let that person/s know that you are concerned for them and their ministry. It can be a caring kind of concern.

When we are concerned about someone, we look for solutions to help them. In that way, they are helped and it relieves our own concern for them as we see them being helped. Thank you Jesus! Sometimes all that is needed is a surprise email, a surprise text, a surprise phone call, etc to show them that you are thinking about them and have concern for them. Help us Jesus! My sweetheart  Chandraleela and I were so touched when I lost my job, Pastor Mike showed up within 2 days at our door to pray for us.  Later, when I dislocated my right  shoulder and missed church, he came to our home to pray and give us communion. Months before that Pastor Mike came to our home with a jar of Citron Tea from Panda Supermarket because I was not well.

I do not know who you are concerned about! Whoever it is, you can take it to the Lord in prayer for guidance and help. Each of our concern for other people actually does make an impact in their lives even if we cannot directly show it. Paul rejoiced greatly in the Lord even in prison because he knew people were concerned for him.

Friend won’t you be the one to show concern for at least one person this week who needs help?
Concern can be shown in different ways through prayer, through giving a hand, through calling, email, text, financially giving for their cause, etc.

As I think about being concerned, Jesus Christ concerns about us and wants us to walk with Him. Thank you so much Lord Jesus. We can do that with His help. May we walk with the Lord Jesus Christ and show His concern in other people’s lives! Amen!

"Compassionately Offer Now Care, Emphasizing Redeemer's Nurture! (C.O.N.C.E.R.N)/”Why show C.O.N.C.E.R.N for others in life?”

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me to learn about concern and caring. Lord, help me to care and show concern for others in need of help even when they are not comfortable asking. Help me to minister to others. I pray those that are troubled can know that you are concerned for them especially during this time of COVID-19. We  pray for your protection for children as they stay home longer, for doctors and nurses. Please use me in other's lives to make an impact for your honor and glory. Forgive me Lord when I have left it to others to show concern when you want me to be the one to show concern. Help me and others be part of a community that embodies biblical values and lives out Acts 2:42-47. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Lord for being concerned for us to the point that you went to the cross to deliver us from our bondage to sin. You shed your precious blood for me because of your ultimate concern for me. I love you so much Jesus! Thank you that we can find deliverance in you. Thank you for carrying our burden. Hear us Oh Lord and please answer us. I pray for the one that is going through a lot right now, that your loving hand will be upon them to bring them your peace and strength. Thank you Lord. Lord, help our concern not to just be to those that benefit us but let us minister to those we see/know that are not doing well. Help us to help them. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

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