7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[a] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:7-11 (ESV)
There were moments in my life where I believed to “hold” someone “in my heart” only to let them go maybe a few months to a year later. When I read this passage, the only people I could think of are those at my old church.
It’s interesting, this same church that helped me grow immensely in my faith, also was the reason for the turmoil in my faith. Yet, I look to my brothers who were a part of the SF chapter. They were the ones who I loved and still hold onto in my heart. All these years later, I still think of them, regardless of where they ended up. To me, they were my brotherhood, despite so much pain and hurt they caused me and each other.
I still think fondly of them because they are still Christian brothers. Many of them took separate paths, but our lives are bound together because we believe in a God who is Lord over our souls.
Many base their “affection” mostly around what others do for them. Or perhaps it’s family and friends, but no other basis. When I look to the people in my life, I never think about their hearts and souls. Yet, our God looks to the heart, the soul, and the spirit of each one of us, desiring that we come back to Him.
What is Christianity?
I think the most important thing for people is to have a relationship with God.
If you see people struggling and feeling hopeless in life, there’s no cure for that without something more to this life.
We think about what we want out of life, but never quite understand what we actually need. And what we need is a relationship with our creator.
Paul is given a purpose. His purpose is to love and have the heart of God towards the lost. Christians pray for non-Christians, but also for Christians to grow in their faith. Christian life is a journey that takes us everywhere and anywhere that we never expected to go. But what it ultimately comes down to is that we’re on that journey with God.
That journey with God is a peace that “fixes” the little hope we have. From there, it grows into something beautiful.
The Quiet Onez 
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