July 24 2026

Friday July 24

"A Sweet-Smelling Sacrifice"

Philippians 4:18

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat! Today is a very special day for me. Early this morning, by God's grace, I will be leaving to go to Dulles Airport to meet with a team of about twenty people on a mission trip to Guatemala. For the next week we'll have the privilege of partnering with local pastors and churches as we encourage believers, minister to families, meet practical needs, and most importantly, share the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Before I leave, I want to thank so many of you who have given donations and prayed for this trip over the past several weeks. Your encouragement has meant so much to me. I would also ask that you continue praying for our entire team throughout this week. Please pray for safe travel, good health, strength for each day, unity among our team members, open doors for ministry, and most of all, that many people would come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

As I thought about this trip, I couldn't help but think of the verses we've been studying together in Philippians chapter 4. After thanking the believers at Philippi for their faithful support, Paul writes in verse 18: "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." What a beautiful picture! The Philippians had sent a financial gift to meet Paul's needs. Humanly speaking, Epaphroditus carried that gift from Philippi all the way to Rome. But when it reached Paul, he didn't simply see money. He saw worship. He saw love. He saw sacrifice. Most of all, he saw something that had risen all the way to Heaven as "a sweet-smelling savor... well pleasing to God."

That expression takes us back to the Old Testament. When sacrifices were offered to the Lord with sincere hearts and in obedience to His Word, the Bible often says they were "a sweet savor unto the Lord." It wasn't the aroma of the sacrifice itself that pleased God. It was the loving obedience and faith behind it. The same principle is true today. Whenever we give ourselves to God's work—whether through our prayers, our encouragement, our resources, or our service—God sees it as an act of worship.

That reminds us that missions is never just about those who go. It is also about those who pray. Those who encourage. Those who faithfully stand behind the work of God. Every believer has the privilege of participating in the Great Commission. As our team travels to Guatemala today, we are not going alone. We are going as representatives of our churches, our families, and so many friends who have prayed faithfully for us. In a very real sense, you are sharing in this ministry through your prayers before God's throne.

As we said yesterday, perhaps you cannot travel across the world. Perhaps your age or your health would not allow it. But every one of us can pray. Every one of us can encourage someone serving Christ. Every one of us can participate in what God is doing around the world. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19–20, "Go you therefore, and teach all nations... and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Romans 10:14-15 reminds us that some are called to go. Others are called to send. Still others are called to pray. But together, we all share in the privilege of making Christ known.

So today, I would simply ask you to remember our team in prayer each day this week. Pray that God would prepare hearts before we arrive. Pray that He would give us wisdom, compassion, and strength. Pray that every conversation, every message, every act of kindness, and every opportunity to serve would bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the Lord provides good internet service, I hope to send along a brief daily update so you can rejoice with us in what God is doing and know how to pray more specifically. Thank you again for your love, your friendship, and especially your faithful prayers.

Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for every person who has prayed for this mission trip and for those who will continue to pray in the days ahead. We ask for Your hand of protection upon our team as we travel. Give us good health, unity, wisdom, and open doors to share the Gospel. Prepare hearts to receive Your Word, strengthen the pastors and churches we will serve, and may everything we do be a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and well pleasing in Your sight. We ask all these things in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

God bless you, my friends. Again, thank you for praying for us. Lord willing, I'll be sharing updates throughout the week as we see what God does in Guatemala. If you want to receive these updates, please send me your email address to pastormike@pmiministries.org