Friday, December 16, 2011
Philippians 4:5
Friday, December 16, 2011 |
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
What a practical book Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi is for the Christian today. What a powerful passage Philippians 4 is for each of us in these days before the coming of the Lord. And what an encouraging word is contained in our key verse for today's devotional reading.
In fact, in five words Paul reminds us of what we must constantly keep before us on a daily basis, "the Lord is at hand", verse 5. Contained within these five words is what drives us to appropriate all of the great Biblical principles that are in Philippians 4 and in fact, all of the practical passages of Philippians.
"The Lord is at hand" is telling us that His shout for us to join Him in the air, the Rapture, is an "any moment" event that is "imminent", an event that could happen before you finish reading this devotional thought for today.
That makes me want to offer up the Apostle John's prayer of 2,000 years ago, Revelation 22:20, "Even so come Lord Jesus." But should He tarry, because "He is not willing that any should parish but all should come to repentance", II Peter 3:9, we can look to all of God's provisions for us in Philippians and in particular chapter four .
Philippians 4 is a very practical pattern for our own personal relationship with Jesus and a productive relationship with our fellow Christians. As I often say, I can't get to every "precious nugget" in this passage, but only some of the highlights.
Verse 4 reflects the theme of the entire book of Philippians, "a joyful mind". I didn't say a "happy mind" but a "joyful mind". There is a difference. Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Rejoicing in the Lord always" 4, means to have that "Godly joy" that Jesus gives, all the time. In verses 6-9 we see how that can happen. We don't need to worry but "pray," verse 6. Sometimes we get that backwards, we don't need to "pray", but worry. Verse 8 tells us to "think", we need to "think" right, we must think on things and about things that contain "virtue" within them.
Verse 9 is the action verse, Paul says, "You've read about my ministry and my example, now go out and "do" what you have seen, heard and learned from me. To be able to rejoice, we must “pray, think and do”. By the way, remember, we can "do" all things through Christ who strengthens us, verse 13.
There is one more nugget before I close, verse 19, "My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus." That promise includes not only financial, but physical and spiritual needs as well.
What practical provision Paul gives us in Philippians for our personal journey through life as we await His "any moment" shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to keep the reality of Your "any moment" return in mind as I appropriate Your provision for these days, awaiting Your shout to call me to be with You forever.
For further study - Philippians 4:1-23
What a practical book Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi is for the Christian today. What a powerful passage Philippians 4 is for each of us in these days before the coming of the Lord. And what an encouraging word is contained in our key verse for today's devotional reading.
In fact, in five words Paul reminds us of what we must constantly keep before us on a daily basis, "the Lord is at hand", verse 5. Contained within these five words is what drives us to appropriate all of the great Biblical principles that are in Philippians 4 and in fact, all of the practical passages of Philippians.
"The Lord is at hand" is telling us that His shout for us to join Him in the air, the Rapture, is an "any moment" event that is "imminent", an event that could happen before you finish reading this devotional thought for today.
That makes me want to offer up the Apostle John's prayer of 2,000 years ago, Revelation 22:20, "Even so come Lord Jesus." But should He tarry, because "He is not willing that any should parish but all should come to repentance", II Peter 3:9, we can look to all of God's provisions for us in Philippians and in particular chapter four .
Philippians 4 is a very practical pattern for our own personal relationship with Jesus and a productive relationship with our fellow Christians. As I often say, I can't get to every "precious nugget" in this passage, but only some of the highlights.
Verse 4 reflects the theme of the entire book of Philippians, "a joyful mind". I didn't say a "happy mind" but a "joyful mind". There is a difference. Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Rejoicing in the Lord always" 4, means to have that "Godly joy" that Jesus gives, all the time. In verses 6-9 we see how that can happen. We don't need to worry but "pray," verse 6. Sometimes we get that backwards, we don't need to "pray", but worry. Verse 8 tells us to "think", we need to "think" right, we must think on things and about things that contain "virtue" within them.
Verse 9 is the action verse, Paul says, "You've read about my ministry and my example, now go out and "do" what you have seen, heard and learned from me. To be able to rejoice, we must “pray, think and do”. By the way, remember, we can "do" all things through Christ who strengthens us, verse 13.
There is one more nugget before I close, verse 19, "My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus." That promise includes not only financial, but physical and spiritual needs as well.
What practical provision Paul gives us in Philippians for our personal journey through life as we await His "any moment" shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to keep the reality of Your "any moment" return in mind as I appropriate Your provision for these days, awaiting Your shout to call me to be with You forever.