Devotions

Rejoice in the Lord Always

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Paul reminds the people of the church in Philippi that “our commonwealth exists in heaven” so we should not walk as the world does, but hold on to what we have attained. But not everyone is getting along in this church and Paul gives them the solution for dealing with this kind of contention. It begins with “Rejoice in the Lord”, then be gentle, don’t be anxious, and “… think about these things”. When we have a thought, and particularly a bad one, we can’t just stop thinking it. We must replace it with something else. We must turn our attention to the outcome that we want instead of thinking about what might go wrong. So Paul says “… whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things.

Sincerely Concerned About Your Circumstances

Philippians 2:19–24

Consider Such People Highly Honored

Philippians 2:25–30

Worship by the Spirit of God

Philippians 3:1–4

I Press on Toward the Goal for the Prize

Philippians 3:5–14 

Our Commonwealth Exists in Heaven

Philippians 3:15–21
Paul often used the local culture to make a point as he did in Acts 17:22-31 when in Athens where he preached a message about their altar “To an unknown God”. Here in Philippi, he is writing to people of a Roman colony where they were very of their citizenship. Paul uses this to describe in Philippians 3:19 “destruction (of) … the ones who think on earthly things” and then reminds them in

Philippians 3:20 For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul is telling them ‘You are a colony of heaven’ (Authorized Version), Paul wrote to the Philippian church (3:20). Just as the Roman colonists never forgot in any environment that they were Romans, so the Philippians must never forget in any society that they were Christians. Nowhere were people prouder of being Roman citizens than in these colonies; and Philippi was one such colony.1 

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Philippians 4:1–9
Paul tells them in Philippians 4:1 to “stand firm in the Lord” and then addresses a specific problem between to women in the Church. These are in Philippians 4:3 “fellow workers whose names are in the book of life” but somehow they are not in Philippians 4:2 “in agreement”. The truth is that we may not like every person that we meet. We may have a different view and a different way of getting things done. And it seems between these two, this was a long standing problem, significant enough that Paul has heard about it. Paul answers this by telling them to keep their eyes on God and rejoice in him in

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

Then he tells them not to strive or fight but to be gentle in

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be made known to all people. The Lord is near.

And, he tells them not to fret or be anxious but pray, ask God, and be thankful in

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And finally, to keep their minds right by thinking on the right things in

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things.

Then before turning to another subject, he says in Philippians 4:9 “practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you”. It really is up to us to allow the God to have first place in our lives. Is there any issue or problem that is more important than this? No, it is just our pride or self-will that gets in the way especially when we start imagining this other person is somehow against us.

Zechariah 8:17 (KJV 1900) And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.

My God Will Fulfill Your Every Need

Philippians 4:10–20
God always seems to give a vision that is bigger than we can fulfill and Paul is not shy about asking for help. He says that giving to help accomplish God’s work will cause increase in their account with God in

Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account.

And it is God that will supply for them in

Philippians 4:19 And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

 

All the Saints Greet You

Philippians 4:21–23
These three little closing verses may seem insignificant, but look at who is included here. “those of Caesar’s household”. Jesus had appeared to Paul after he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and said in

Acts 23:11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

While Paul is writing this letter to the Church in Philippi, he writes with chains as he is still imprisoned in Rome. We might think that being in chains would prevent the spread of the gospel but Paul wrote earlier in

Philippians 1:12–13 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have happened instead for the progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in Christ has become known in the whole praetorium and to all the rest,

Now as Paul closes this letter, we find that the gospel has gone even beyond the praetorian guard to “Caesar’s household”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Philippians 2:19-30
  • Philippians 3:1-21
  • Philippians 4:1-23

References

  • 1. Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 5). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.