Category: Philippians

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:2).

Paul begins each of his epistles with these words.

And always in this order.  

Grace and Peace

Go ahead and check for yourself.  I’ll wait…

…

…

See what I mean?

Grace comes first, because without grace there can be no peace.

No peace with God

No peace with family

No peace in your own heart

None of it happens without the grace of God.  And why would it?  Without grace, you are judged solely on your own merit.

And you know how far that gets you.

Apart from God’s grace, you are a hopeless, pathetic lump, destined for destruction.

Feeling encouraged yet?

Don’t fret–the encouraging part is coming.

Here it is–but you are not apart from God’s grace, are you, Beloved?  If you belong to Him, you have his grace, sufficient to all your needs. Your pathetic lumpiness has been forgiven, atoned for.  You, my friend, are complete, you are whole, you are loved.  

You are His.

Nope, peace is not something you can earn or deserve or accomplish.

Only receive.

You can’t get there, but you can be there.

Oh, of course you know that already, you being so spiritual and all.

But Paul seems to think it’s worth the reminder, and who am I to argue?

Walk in grace, Beloved.  And know peace.

Happy Thursday

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons…(Philippians 1:1).

I’m feeling a little Philippianial.

Shall we?

Much of Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is going to be concerned with two vital questions:

Who are we?

Whose are we?

Paul hits the ground running. He identifies himself as a servant of Christ–not an apostle, but a servant. He takes the humble route–a road he will encourage us to travel in a little bit–thereby undermining any thoughts the Philippians may have had about boasting or bragging. I mean if he, The Paul, is merely a servant, his readers can’t exactly think more highly of themselves, now can they?

But…

Then he turns to his audience and addresses them as saints. Though he has just pointed out that he is but a servant, he calls them Holy Ones, whom the Lord of the Universe has chosen as his own. There can be no higher position in creation. It’s like, before he even begins his discourse, Paul is sending us a message:

You are so much less than you think.

And so much more.

Chew on that today, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Philippians 4:23).

Well, Beloved…we did it.

Pretty much the entire book of Philippians

Go us.

So…Paul signs off with a simple sentence, a benediction to his readers. But it’s more than a simple, “That’s all, folks!” He manages to encapsulate, in a few words, a big chunk of the Christian life:

1. It’s grace–you can’t earn it.
2. It’s Jesus–always, ever Jesus.
3. It’s your spirit–God works from the inside out. 

Take that reminder with you into your Friday. 

The Lord of Everything chooses to love you, in spite of…well…you. He’s given you all you need to live and to serve and to be amazing.

So, go live.

Go serve.

Go be amazing.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

The key word here is needs.

And God.  God is always a key word.

And, you know, Christ Jesus.

But right now I’m talking about needs.

God will give me what I need, just like any loving father. Not every want or desire or whim of my flesh, but my every need. And what I need, more than anything…

is him.

This ties back into the idea of contentment. When I trust God I am satisfied with what I have, not stressed about what I don’t. This frees me to give. Giving to God’s people brings me closer to him, which deepens my reliance on him, causing me to trust him more, producing greater contentment with my situation, which frees me to give, drawing me closer…

Let the circle be unbroken.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles (Philippians 4:14).

So, there is a person on your mind who needs help.

Maybe financially

Maybe emotionally

Maybe logistically

Maybe spiritually

I don’t know who they are, but you do–their face just popped into your head.

So, here’s the deal–God is all they need, and God will provide for them, with you or without you. But he has given you the opportunity to be part of that provision, to be a source of his blessing.

How do you know God is the one granting this opportunity?

Well, just who do you think put that face in your head in the first place?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

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 4:13).

The secret isn’t a what. It’s a who. 

Not the Seuss kind of who.

Jesus

The answer to human nature

The only thing we truly can never get enough of

Beloved, if you are in Christ, then what you have today is his provision for you. Rejoice in it–whatever it is. 

It is enough. 

Beloved, if you are in Christ, then who you are today is the result of his work in you. Rejoice in it–whatever it is. 

You are enough.

Happy Tuesday 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty (Philippians 4:12).

When I was 19 I lived alone in a little cabin in the mountains. I had just started a new job and didn’t know that paychecks often came a few weeks behind the actual work dates. 

Surprise

At one point I was living off generic ramen noodles with the occasional egg tossed in. In the last day or two before payday, the eggs were long gone and the ramen ran out and I engaged in what I called a financial fast–code for no money with which to eat. I sat at an empty table and read my Bible during meal times, going for the whole spiritual food is more valuable than physical food deal.

It ranks as one of the best times of my life.

These days I never go hungry. At least, not physically.

Hmm.

Happy Monday, Beloved

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11).

The word I hold on to here is learned.

Learned gives me hope. It tells me that Paul wasn’t always content, either. That word lets me know that Paul was once like me, looking forward and backward and all around instead of being content with where he was, who he was, what God was doing in the moment. And if Paul can learn…

When I was a little kid I thought that content was a verb. The only time I encountered the word was on aerosol cans–you know, contents under pressure. I thought that meant that the stuff inside the can would do something–would content–if you squeezed it. I’m not sure what I thought it would do, exactly. Explode or something, I guess. The concept was intriguing and vaguely unsettling.

But content is not a verb, is it? It’s not something you do. 

And that’s the point.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

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. (Philippians 4:10).

I’m a schoolteacher.  Because of our schedule, there is one month during the summer when I get no paycheck. For many years I covered the gap by teaching summer school.  It was tight, but it worked.

Until the year they decided–at the last minute–not to offer summer school.

Uh, oh.

Cathy and I mentioned our tight situation as a prayer request in our Sunday School class. Together we prayed that God would provide, and he did.

Through them

Our brothers and sisters in Christ showed up the next week with trunks full of supplies for us. Love made manifest in produce. I gotta tell you, it was uncomfortable being on the receiving end of such a thing. It was humbling, and I’ve never enjoyed being humbled. I felt stupid and inadequate and distinctly loserly.

But the gift was given in joy, not judgment. One look told me that our friends were genuinely happy to have the chance and the ability to help. We were blessed. They were blessed. The Father was pleased. 

Beloved, don’t miss out on your opportunity to give today.

Or your opportunity to receive.

Each can be a blessing.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

And the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8).

The struggle is real.

And…you’re not alone.

I am so thankful for this verse.  When I read about all I’m supposed to do and be, and realize how inadequate to the task I am…oy ve.  It can be so disheartening. And I must not be alone, because God takes a moment, just after this intense passage, just when I am most frustrated with myself and feeling like I’ll never ever no way no how ever be able to do this man of God thing, to remind me that He is with me.

The God of peace.

Not the God of strength, not in this moment, because he knows that what I need right now is a deep breath, a slowed pulse, and a reminder that He’s got me, and that He’s still at work in me.

I need peace.

And He is the source.

Be all that your Lord has called you to be today, Beloved.

And when you fail, remember that the God of peace is with you.

Happy Wednesday.