如今我们写信或写邮件时，都会在最后署上名字。并且，根据写信对象的不同，我们会调整署名的方式。你不会对你的老板署名说：“爱你，乔治。”你也不会给你的配偶一个冷淡的署名说：“问候你，简。”
在保罗的时代，人们会在信的开头署名，而从问候语中往往能一窥信的内容。在腓立比书信中，我们一下子就能看出，这是一封充满爱和温暖的信。保罗称呼他的读者为圣徒：“神圣洁的百姓”，以“从神我们的父，并主耶稣基督”而来的恩惠平安浇灌他们。接着，他清楚表明自己为他们是多么地感谢神。他们是保罗的福音同伴、同工，神要透过他们成就大事。而这同时伴随着神必成全圣工的应许。保罗在这里展现出他的牧者心肠，他给予在腓立比生活和工作的基督徒极大的鼓励，透露出深切的关怀和爱意。
我们都需要知道自己是蒙爱的，我们也都需要被鼓励。我们需要有人看见神在我们生命中的工作，替我们指出来，清楚说出，并为之感恩。
腓立比教会的人需要这种鼓励。因此保罗要确保他们在这封充满爱意和牧养的信中，首先接收到的就是这种鼓励。
亲爱的主，感谢祢以祢的圣灵爱我们，鼓励我们。祢的恩惠平安如同我们的生命。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
腓立比书 1:1-6
1 基督耶稣的仆人保罗和提摩太，写信给凡住腓立比，在基督耶稣里的众圣徒和诸位监督、诸位执事。
2 愿恩惠、平安从神我们的父并主耶稣基督归于你们！
3 我每逢想念你们，就感谢我的神；
4 每逢为你们众人祈求的时候，常是欢欢喜喜地祈求。
5 因为从头一天直到如今，你们是同心合意地兴旺福音。
6 我深信那在你们心里动了善工的必成全这工，直到耶稣基督的日子。
"I thank my God every time I remember you." — Philippians 1:3
In letters or emails that we write today, we place our signature at the end. And, depending on whom we are writing, we adjust the way we sign. You don’t sign an email to your boss with “Love, George.” And you don’t treat your spouse aloofly by signing “Regards, Jane.”
Back in Paul’s day, people signed their letters at the beginning, and the greeting often gave a preview of what was to come. In Philippians we can tell right away that this letter is going to be full of love and warmth. Paul calls his readers saints, “God’s holy people,” and showers them with grace and peace “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he makes clear how thankful he is for them. They are gospel partners, coworkers in whom God is doing a great thing—and this comes with a promise that God will bring his work to completion. Paul reveals his pastor’s heart here by offering great encouragement and displaying deep care and affection for the Christians living and working in Philippi.
We all need to know that we’re loved, and we all need encouragement. We need someone to see God’s work in our lives, call it out for us, name it, and give thanks for it.
The Philippians needed that kind of encouragement. So Paul makes sure it is the first thing they receive in this loving, pastoral letter.
Thank you, dear Lord, for loving us and for encouraging us by your Spirit. Your grace and peace are our very life. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
