Philippians 4

This is such a powerful chapter with so may principles to live by. First to stand firm in the Lord because we are citizens of heaven and we know that one day Jesus will return and bring everything under his control and will give us glorious bodies. Secondly we see encouragement to resolve differences in the knowledge of Christ and the greater priority of working for the gospel. Thirdly is the instruction to rejoice in the Lord always and to recognize in Him, we can do so. There is always a reason to have joy in spite of the circumstances we find ourselves in. Choosing to rejoice in the Lord is a powerful way to get it. And what better reason to rejoice than what we find fourthly and that is to be freed from anxiety. What a great consolation prayer is to cast our cares on the Lord and receive from Him the peace that passes understanding. And what a powerful dynamic to be able to determine what settles in our minds by choosing what to think. And what a great list we find here of what to occupy our minds with. And what may be the most valuable principle amongst a set of great ones is the whole idea of being content. It is in some ways the consummation and practical expression of everything else: to not need to have more but to be settled in what we do have. It is even better when this permeates every aspect of us…content with possessions, content with relationships, content with position in life, with skills and abilities, etc. It doesn’t mean it is wrong to want or pursue more, but in the pursuing, the lack of the thing does not cause discontentment. I still have the joy and peace referenced earlier. And if this leads us to be generous with people doing ministry, well that’s ok too.