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Friday, September 18, 2009

Supply Lines

A siege can be a powerful weapon of war.  The strategy is simple: Cut
off all possible means of supplying the enemy, and hunger and
desperation will eventually lead to his surrender.  General Grant used
a siege to conquer the heavily fortified city of Vicksburg, MS in
1863.  There have been numerous other instances of this strangling
tactic throughout the ages.

Supply lines are a part of our everyday lives.  We normally don't
think about them, but ships, railroads and trucking lines daily
transport essential and nonessential items to our hometowns.  A
truckers' strike in 1974 reminded Americans just how vital these lines
of supply are.  Within just a few days, long lines formed at corner
filling stations, and there were periodic shortages of staples like
bread and milk.  Supply lines must be kept open.

The same principle operates in our physical bodies.  The circulation
system is an amazing network of veins, arteries and capillaries.  If
all blood vessels in the average human body were laid end to end, they
would circle the earth twice
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_vessels).  Every cell depends on
the nutrients that are supplied by our blood.  If the supply line is
impeded (e.g. with a tourniquet), a crisis quickly emerges.

Did you know there are also supply lines in place for spiritual needs?
Many are not aware of such a blessing, and many don't even acknowledge
that they have spiritual needs.  But it's true; we often run short of
courage, peace, joy, love, forgiveness, and a host of other
intangibles.

In his letter to the Philippian Christians, Paul refers to these
supply lines.  He says, for example, in 1:19: "For I know that this
will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of
the Spirit of Jesus Christ."  Paul wrote this letter from a prison
cell (see 1:7,14, etc.), a place where needs are strongly felt.  The
apostle's needs were supplied, however, because others were praying
for him and the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Holy Spirit) was supplying
him.

In the next chapter Paul pointed to another source of needed
blessings.  Epaphroditus had come to Paul's place of confinement to
deliver a message from his friends in Philippi.  While there
Epaphroditus did much more: "Because for the work of Christ he came
close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in
your service toward me" (Philippians 2:30).

We don't know the details of what Epaphroditus did while serving Paul.
But whatever it was, it supplied the great apostle's needs.  That
supply line was again vital.

One other supply line is noted toward the end of this letter: "And my
God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).  This supply line is the most vital
of all - a sort of spiritual jugular vein!  God's resources cannot be
exhausted, and He places them at our service.  Even the extreme
hardships of a Roman prison cell could not dampen Paul's spirits as he
contemplated this never-ending river of blessings.

Those who read this probably enjoy reliable supply lines for their
physical needs.  But what about your soul?  Is it getting what it
desperately needs?  God is ready to bring you into His network, and
your every need will be provided.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him
in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like
to discuss these ideas further.
--Timothy D. Hall

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