Your concern for me ... a fragrant offering ...
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:10,14, 17-19 NLT
I love the way that Paul connects concern with offerings. In many churches the phrase "love offering" seems to be way overused. Yet real and actual love for God, his servants and others should always be the banner that we fly as we support people like Paul. Even so, I think that it is very difficult to gain this mindset because of the professional, and sometimes sterile, way that missionaries and others are supported - many of us have never met the ones we support.
In thanking the Philippians for their help Paul makes outrageous claims. He indicates that when they give to him they are actually giving to God. This had to be so different for people with a history where gifts to God were presented on an altar. Paul uses the altar imagery to remind them of the fragrance of the Jewish altar of incense. And lastly he encourages them by saying that, because they have met his needs, God in return will meet their needs.
Help us Lord, in this season of giving, to remember that our gifts should be motivated by a loving concern for others.
Content ... through him who gives me strength ...
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
The phrase "I have learned to be content" reminds me that contentment is a lifelong learning process. When Ann first got her motorized wheelchair I did not think that I would ever come to accept it. I believed that she would soon walk again. Did not know that I was grieving our loss and in a bit of denial. Eventually I learned to be content. Hearing Paul speaking of this learning process from jail encourages me so much - he was learning contentment while in chains.
What do you think Paul means when he speaks of doing all this through him who gives me strength? Is he speaking of some sort of mystical revelation or could he be speaking of the sort of prayer that he wrote of a few verses back? My view is that contentment comes as we cast our hopes, our dreams, our sorrows, our anxieties, and everything else that brings discontentment on the Lord in prayer. As we do this our heart is strengthened and we learn to be content.
Help us today Lord to be open to the lessons of contentment. Teach us to pray though our discontentment.
Think about such things ...
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9
Thought that I would begin today by meditating on these words that Paul recommends to us:
Help us Lord to remember these words and sow them into our lives today by putting them into practice.
- true :: reminds me that God wants me to live a life that is true to who I am in Him;
- noble :: speaks to me of the honor that we have to live as children of the most High;
- right :: to know the right thing to do and to do it is an act of righteousness;
- pure :: teaches me that I should always keep my conscience clear and my motives pure;
- lovely :: encourages me to personify grace with lovely acts of graciousness and compassion;
- admirable :: helps me to remember that I want to be a man who acts with dignity and integrity;
- excellent :: reminds me that God brings beauty from ashes when we seek Him with all of our hearts;
- praiseworthy :: causes me to live in such a way that I may one day hear: "well done faithful servant".
Do not be anxious about anything ...
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:4-7 NLT
I once heard that fear is the opposite of faith. Along those same thought lines, I wonder if worry is the opposite of trust? Worry feels a bit different than fear for some but I suspect it has the same roots. An old friend once told me that it was her right to worry - I think some feel that worry is a sign that they care. I can relate - even my prayers are sometimes an expression of worry. Yet this is not the sort of prayer that Paul speaks to here.
In these verses we read of a type of prayer that rejoices, releases and gives thanks. It is the sort of intercession that, as James says it, casts our worries on the Lord and leaves them there. Such prayers are answered with a peace which transcends all understanding because such a peace can only be experienced when we pray trusting God with all of our heart. In contrast, when we pray with our heads we often are simply expressing our worries and not our trust.
Lord, knowing you are near we rejoice and give thanks. We cast our cares on you knowing how much you care for us.
They will be like his glorious body ...
Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! -Philippians 3:20-4:1,4 NLT
For months the pain levels in my wrists and shoulders have elevated. Doctors are telling me that my wrists will need to be surgically fused to alleviate the pain. Next week I am headed to physical therapy to deal with my shoulder pains. So I am much encouraged when I think about my body being transformed at death to a glorious and resurrected one. Knowing that a new pain-free heavenly body awaits those who believe in Jesus inspires so much hope.
Small wonder, in light of this future bodily transformation, that Paul from prison encourages each of us to rejoice in the Lord always. Sitting in chains the apostle sets a wonderful example for us of a person who found a way to transcend his pain and his disappointment. Knowing that he found a way to rejoice in such a dark place encourages me today to find a way to rejoice even though my body is hurting. It is such a compelling message of resurrection life.
Help us Lord to transcend our pain, discouragement and disappointment. Teach us to rejoice in you always.
Their mind is set on earthly things.
Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.
-Philippians 3:16-20 NLT
This is the second time in this letter that Paul speaks of the responsibilities of heavenly citizenship. He contrasts such a life with people who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Describing such people he says their god is their stomach, their glory is in their shame and their mind is set on earthly things. It speaks to me of what citizenship in the kingdom of heaven is not. In the book of Romans Paul says that citizenship in the kingdom of God:
"is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"The difference between citizens of heaven and those of earth is what is focused on. Earthly citizens focus on physical things while citizens of heaven pay attention to the invisible aspects of life. One group fixates on rules about what should be done while others are concerned more with how they are done. One groups emphasizes religious rules and the other spiritual ones. One is concerned with law and the other with love. It is a contrast between head and heart.
Lord help us to know, with every fiber of our being, that our real citizenship is eternally in heaven.
I press on toward the goal ...
I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:10-14 NLT
This passage reminds me of the story of Derek Redmond running the 400 meters semi-final race at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Derek was favored to win yet halfway into the race he tore his hamstring. Refusing to stay down he fought through the pain and, with help from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. I can imagine heaven on its feet and cheering us on as we get up from a painful fall and press on.
Paul tells us that the key to knowing Christ and experiencing resurrection power is simply: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead". The imagery is compelling and helps me to understand that knowing Christ is never about the past but about the present. We cannot press on today if our eyes are not fixed ahead - we cannot walk a straight path when we look back. Perseverance is the means by which we answer His heavenly call.
Help us Lord to heed these words. We need your grace to persevere. Open our heart to your call on our lives.
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