Philippians 3:20-21, 4:1, 4-9
But our citizenship is in heaven.
This is not our home – if I feel out of place, it is for my benefit so that I long for heaven to be with Jesus.
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...
He CAN and DOES bring everything under HIS control. I cannot control what goes on in my life, but the Bible cleary states that Jesus can. He is in control of everything and I can surrender control to Him because He is faithful and trustworthy.
…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
I should live like I believe these things! I can stand firm in the Lord because He is good, He is in control, He is loving, and He is mighty. And because He gives joy!
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
No matter the circumstances, rejoice! When I don’t see God, when I don’t feel Him, when I think He is distant, wait on Him and rejoice in Him! I am supposed to have joy in the Lord – my relationship with Him is not one of blind, forceful submission with no joy – it is absolutely fulfilling and joyful!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
This says the Lord is NEAR, not far. I take this to mean two things: The Lord is coming soon so we must let our gentleness be evident to all so that more may come to know Him, and that He is near – His presence. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, in me! Nothing is more near than that!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 minds in Christ Jesus.
How great is our God that in His provision He includes this passage in the Bible, reminding His children that we don’t need to worry, we shouldn’t worry, and in the following verses He even tells us how to defeat worry. He knew that we, that I, would struggle with this and He made sure that we knew He knows our struggles. How great is His love!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and 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.
Think about such things – I used to read this portion and think that we should think about things that other people would find praise worthy or admirable about ourselves. As in “Look at that Christian, let us praise him for being so admirable in his thoughts”. But I think that it is actually thinking about things that bring praise to God. Think about things that we can praise God for, things that He has done in our life, how lovely He is, how deep His love for us is. Amen!
