Thursday, July 5, 2018

Year 8, Day 186: Philippians 4


Theological Commentary: Click Here



In the final chapter of Philippians, Paul gives us his final pieces of advice.  His crowning piece of advice is to rejoice in the Lord.  Our relationship with God should give us reason to be joyful.  After all, if God promises life eternal, what temporary adversity can harm that joy?  Of course, that doesn’t mean we can be happy all the time.  Things will come up in life that will make us unhappy or angry.  But such times should be fleeting.  Our normal status quo should be an air of rejoicing.



What can our attitude of rejoicing lead to?  First of all, our rejoicing should lead us to less anxiety.  If we are with the Lord, and the Lord can grant eternal life to us, what have we to be concerned about?  Again, there will be a few small things that do make us anxious.  We can’t help being anxious from time to time.  But that should not be our standard feeling.  Anxiety, when it comes, should be a fleeting feeling instead of one that dominates us.



The second effect is that we should have peace.  If the Lord is where our trust resides, what can the world throw at us that the Lord cannot bring us through?  Sure, we won’t have perfect lives.  Even Jesus, the only sinless man, was crucified!  God can bring us through our troubles.  That should give us a peace that passes all understanding.



Because of this, we should put our mind on the things that are good and pure.  In other words, this goes back to the end of yesterday’s passage.  We aren’t saved by our works, but our works should give evidence of our salvation.  If we have an abundance of joy, if we have the ability to let go of anxiety, if we have a peace that passes all understanding, why would we not desire to focus on the good and pure things of God?  Why would we not want to practice such things? 



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