Observations:
I asked myself in what context do we see God and Jesus Christ used in this verse?
1. God can testify how I long for all of you.
2. I long for all of you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of Paul mentioning God and Jesus Christ?
Paul is so confident in his longing for the Philippians with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ that he is able to say that GOD CAN TESTIFY on his behalf. Wow! Paul is assured to bank on the testimony of God on his relationship with the Philippians, that it is genuine with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ!

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
In any relationship that the Lord Jesus places in my life whether it is with my sweetheart wife Leela, my precious daughters Esther and Evangeline, my family or friends, can I be able to say, 'God can testify that my longing for others is with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ' or can Satan testify that my longing for others is with the selfishness of Satan. There is no middle ground. It is one or the other in relationships. I want God to be able to testify on my behalf to others that it is with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ. Anything mentioned in Scriptures has implications for our lives somehow and somewhere because God's entire Word is our instruction manual.

There are and have been relationships in my life that I can confidently say with the apostle Paul, "God can testify how I long for all of you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus." And then there are also relationships in my life that I cannot bank on God to testify on my behalf because that AFFECTION of Christ Jesus is not exhibited on my part towards others.

I realized how much the Philippians meant to Paul that he was not shy to use the word AFFECTION in the context of Christ Jesus. It showed me that AFFECTION should not be limited to a romantic relationship alone but AFFECTION of Christ Jesus should be shown to those relationships Jesus has placed in my life. I want AFFECTION of Christ Jesus to be a phrase that people can use about my relationship with them.

The Lord Jesus can place people in our life that our AFFECTION grows based on our own relationship experiences with them BUT more than anything, it is because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter how long I spent with Pastor Hugo, it felt like the time went away like a blink of an eye. Now, when I spend time with Pastor Josh, it feels like the time just flies away. This past Thursday, I was telling Chandra that I spent 4 hours with Pastor Josh discussing spiritual leadership, etc and was shocked that 4 hours went by. It felt like even an hour did not go by. When we have AFFECTION towards another we can spend so much time with them that the time just flies away because we are comfortable being in their presence too. What Pastor Hugo and Pastor Josh has done for me, I felt I should do for the students and young professionals making myself available Tuesdays and Wednesdays for anyone who wants to talk about their lives, need prayer, etc between 9:00 am - 1:00 pm or a time that is convenient for you. If you want to meet, please just text me or call me at 412-641-9426. We can meet where and when it is convenient for you. My wife and I have such AFFECTION towards the international students and families, he has placed in our path. We love playing games with them, sharing spiritual insights with them, and eating homemade Indian food with them.

The purpose of today's devotional for me was to have relationships in such a way that God can testify on my behalf that the longing is with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.

I ask you now dear friend, how can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others?
Dear friend, it starts with having loving relationships in life. A relationship does not have to be romantic even though our culture equates 'being in a relationship' with being with a member of the opposite sex but that's not how Paul defined a relationship and neither should we box a relationship in those terms alone. The day you and I were born, we were meant to be in a relationship with those who loved us. Through the years, the Lord Jesus has placed people in our lives to love us, train us, challenge us, etc for our own growth. Your AFFECTION will grow depending on how much you experience the Lord's love first and foremost.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you to take all your scars and heal them by His love. You can be in the best relationship possible with the best person who is perfect and will never disappoint you. Yes, friend you can be! He loves you so much and if you were the only one living, He would have still come to have a relationship with you because you are special and precious in His sight. He has called you by Name and will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus went to the cross for your sake and my sake.  He paid the ultimate price by shedding His precious blood for you and me to cover over all our sins and came back to life on the third day to save us. For when Christ loves you and heals you, He does not want you to live your life alone but be part of a community of believers where we can reciprocate His love for us and His AFFECTION for us.

When you are in a relationship with Jesus, His love in your life will help you find a community of believers where your AFFECTION will grow towards others because of Christ's work in your life. When you experience a relationship with Christ, He will introduce you to a 'Witnessing Community' that can help you experience love that will turn to deep AFFECTION towards others.

The Lord Jesus has used my mommy mightily to help me come to know Jesus as my Lord and Personal Savior so my love for the Lord and experiencing His strong community is what grows my affections towards others. The Lord continues to use my mommy and my darling wife Chandra through their prayers to help me grow in AFFECTION towards others. Thank you Jesus!

You and I can be in a relationship with Jesus and wait upon Him to transform our lives and experience AFFECTION that grows towards others because of what He has already done for us.  I hope you would join me if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, for He waits for you and is calling you. Yes, He is!

May you rest in Him and Him alone where your AFFECTION will grow towards others because of His love and work in your life! Amen!

"Acknowledge, Faithfully Forever Christ Triumphs In Our Nurture!" (A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N)/"How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for how much you love us. Thank you for loving the apostle Paul so much that even though in jail, we see his AFFECTION towards the Philippians because of you. Oh Lord, help others to see our AFFECTION towards others is because of you. In that moment, please touch their lives that they would want to know you as their Lord and Personal Savior too because of your love for them. Touch hearts with your love Oh Lord. Heal the broken hearted and help us make ourselves available for others who need to talk, pray, etc just like Pastor Hugo, Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Pastor Bucknell, Pastor Ridge, Pastor Terrence, Pastor Lake, and Elder Calvin, etc have made themselves available to me time after time. Use us to be a blessing in the lives of others and let them experience your AFFECTION through us. Thanks so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!