Message summary: We pray that today's message prompts you to always be loyal to your friends and to our Lord Jesus Christ. May you be described as a loyal yokefellow.

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“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:2,3).

Many years ago I received a small package in the mail. I opened the package and found a small lapel pin in the shape of a yoke. Al Worthley, who for many years was my chaplain supervisor, included a brief note that identified me as a "fellow yokefellow", a reference to our daily text in Philippians 4:3. That was a very meaningful commendation! In fact I have it on my desk as I prepare this message.

A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull a load together when working in pairs. They must work in equal cooperation to be effective. Unequal yoking is disastrous in farming, marriage, business partnerships and in ministry. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-15) The yoke is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis and used all through the Bible.

The yoke is also a lesser known but universal symbol of Christian ministry. If we heed Christ's command to take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:29) we discover the rich blessing that comes with full participation in the cause of Christ. He offers His yoke to all who will deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him.

In one sense we are yoked with Christ but in another sense we are yoked with all those who are committed to Christ and His cause. We become true yokefellows as we journey here below.

In our daily text Paul refers to a “loyal yokefellow”, whose identity is not specifically known, although the word could have also been a proper name. The word in the Greek means “yoked together”.

Paul apparently knew that this yokefellow would be one of the primary recipients of the letter to the Philippians and that he'd know that he was being addressed. He was asked to mediate a dispute between two quarreling women who are identified by name for all in the church age to read about! “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord” (v.2). How would you like people throughout the generations and from all over the world to read about an ongoing dispute you’re hashing out with your fellow Christian worker? (But that's another message).

The descriptive title Paul uses tells us so much about the man who was to be the mediator for these two women. The adjective, “loyal” can also be translated “true, legitimate, or genuine”. As stated above, yokefellow may have been a proper name, “Syzygus”, but it also has the meaning of being joined or co-yoked together.

What a contrast to these two women who were not in agreement!

What a beautiful term for a close, long-lasting ministry relationship perhaps prompted by our Lord’s words in Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul"!

In my observation this character quality of being a yokefellow is greatly diminishing in our fickle age. Beginning with the family we see in all levels of society a breakdown in loyalty. I am thankful first of all for the loyalty of God, although we usually don’t use this term as an attribute of God but rather His faithfulness.

I am also thankful for the loyalty expressed by the people in my life and I myself want to be known for my loyalty. Each of us have been stung by disloyalty more than once. We can identify with David when he wrote, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). Jesus and the apostle Paul both knew the bitter and lingering sting of disloyalty.

I’m sure you have some very close, loyal friends and consider them to be a great blessing in your life. I consider so many that quickly come to mind. In fact many of them are recipients of these daily encouragement messages, including one going back over 60 years. I have loyal friends from my childhood, college years and from each location our ministry has taken us. This long and growing trail of loyal friends is one of the richest blessings of getting older!

May the Lord bless our readers today with loyal friends. We pray that today's message prompts you to always be loyal to your spouse, family, friends and above all to our Lord Jesus Christ. May you be described as a loyal yokefellow.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber