Christian encouragement

Deep Roots – Part 2

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Philippians 4:1-9

Last time, we pictured an old oak tree – scarred but steadfast – standing firm through every storm. In Philippians 4:1-9, the Apostle Paul urges believers to do the same: to root their lives in something enduring: the gospel. “Stand firm in the Lord,” he writes, reminding us that conviction, not techniques, is what roots us when the winds of life blow.

Now Paul turns from principle to practice. In a surprising move, he names two women – Euodia and Syntyche – who’ve had a falling out. These weren’t strangers. They had once labored side by side in gospel ministry, likely as close friends. But something – perhaps a disagreement over how to carry out the work – has driven a wedge between them. And Paul, in a letter meant to be read aloud to the whole church, calls them to reconciliation.

He calls them out not because they’re bad nor because he’s angry. But because he loves them. He knows their names are written in the Book of Life. He knows their relationship matters.

How often do we see this play out in our own lives? A friendship falters. A family member becomes distant. A disagreement over politics, parenting, or priorities turns into a silent standoff. Maybe you’re in one right now. Maybe you’ve said – or thought – “I’ll never talk to them again.”

Paul doesn’t offer a truce or a compromise. He offers something deeper: “Agree in the Lord.” That doesn’t mean ignoring differences. It means remembering what matters most. It means returning to the shared foundation of Christ, where convictions concerning Christ outweigh personal opinions.

Christ himself modeled this. Though He was God, He didn’t demand His own way. He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and invited others to follow. He didn’t force unity. He fostered it through sacrificial love.

So, dear reader, if you’re stewing over someone’s opinion or nursing a grudge, consider this: Christ gave up His right to remain in heaven and came down to bring us together. Can we not do the same?

Let Christ be the center that holds everything else in place. Let the gospel be the soil where reconciliation grows. And let today be the day you take a step toward healing. Agree in the Lord. The oak still stands. So can you.

Known by Being Known

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Psalm 139

Who are you, really?

In an age where we curate versions of ourselves through social media and struggle under the weight of comparison, Psalm 139 offers us something far more grounding than image or achievement: the soul-deep truth that we are fully known and deeply loved by God.

This isn’t abstract theology. It’s intensely personal. The God who made the stars also sees you when you lie awake at night, thoughts spinning. He knows every word on your tongue before you speak it, every fear and joy behind your silence. He knows your history, your path, your comings and goings, as a companion. Like a hand gently cupped around a marble about to roll off the table, God’s presence hems us in, protecting us from ourselves and from a world that often forgets our worth if we’ll let him.

This kind of knowing can feel frightening. What if God sees what I’m trying to hide? What if He’s disappointed?

And yet, the Psalmist reminds us that God’s gaze is not a spotlight of shame, but the steady light of love. The One who saw you in the womb and spoke you into existence also sees the parts of you that feel unfinished or unworthy and calls them “wonderfully made.” What would happen if we saw ourselves that way? If instead of chasing approval, we rested in the truth that we were handcrafted with purpose?

Even in moments of pain or confusion, when we might want to flee, we discover we cannot outrun the God who pursues us, to lead us home. Like the poet Malcolm Guite writes, “You search me out and lay your hand upon me,” not to constrain, but to steady and guide.

Perhaps the most freeing realization is this: when we open ourselves to the God who knows us completely, we begin to know ourselves truly. We don’t have to pretend, or pose, or self-promote. We are free to live honestly, courageously, and joyfully, secure in the care of the One who knows us best—and still chooses us.

As George MacDonald, said, “I would rather be what God chose to make me, than the most glorious creature that I could think of. For to have been thought about—born in God’s thoughts—and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, most precious thing in all thinking.”.  

To be known by God is not merely comforting. It is transforming.

Let yourself be seen. And in being known, come to truly know the One who loves you.