Read this tonight...

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Philippians 2:17

Paul knew full well his readers could identify with the Jewish tradition of drink offerings, which were poured out alongside burnt offerings. Although not Jewish, his readers were definitely used to Jewish customs of the day. Paul's point seems to be that the suffering he is going through, perhaps similar in scope to the suffering of other Christian brothers around him, allowed him to rejoice together with them.

Many friends come and go in my life. But the wonderful thing about those who know Jesus, is that the things that God brings them through and is bringing them through encourages me that He is not finished with me yet. At the risk of being too simple, I could say that others, go through various trials not unlike those I may experience.

Though the challenges in my life seem great, I know that I cannot hold a candle to what the Apostle Paul went through for his Lord and for those he served alongside. But the one thing that sticks out in my mind is he had people in his life that were going through life with him. His struggles, their struggles. They intersected at the junction of faith. Faith that moved Paul to press on. A faith which allowed him to continually rejoice, no matter what his mood or what ebb or tide came in. And that rejoicing was mutual. To have friends that rejoice with you is rare . To have friends that suffer with you is rarer still. But I'm so glad he's given me some awesome people to do both. My family, my wife, my son, my closest friends, all see me up close and personal. They may not understand all my musings, but they are friends. My life too is a drink offering, being poured out. It's filled up again and again, and then poured out, again and again, that others may rejoice in Christ. My life. Others' joy. My joy.