Philippians 4:1-23
4:1 God truly longs to be reunited with you. He placed you on this earth with complete freedom, hoping that you would find Him and allow Him to be your lifeline.
We are loved and our potential (and fulfillment) for compassionate impacts on this world are the joy of creation. The life inside of us is evidence of creation's crown: its ability to inspire justice and compassion within manifestations of free life. How beautiful a moment it must be for God when one of His children chooses His way of life. It is not enforced, rather we are given the ability to choose our way. It is a beautiful moment not when we conform to His way but when we naturally identify with it, with Him. Not out of fear but out of agreement.
So stay focused in faith, Paul encourages. There is so much more to life than is thought and visible. So much love and life awaits.
4:2-3 Help the children of God and the fellow workers of His spiritual philosophy. We are here as instruments of justice and compassion therefore fulfill your purpose! Strive to match your potential.
4:4 Rejoice in our Creator. Be filled with joy because that is the frequency of all creator. Compared to the life that follows, this life is flimsy: unworthy of worry. From within this temporary classroom, seek faith, seek joy. There are bumps here: lessons, as any self-respecting and instructive classroom does. Your faith is going to guide you over those bumps, around them, through them... rejoice because the universe is awaiting your permission to provide you joy.
4:5 Be gentle in that your reputation becomes one of truth and sincerity. Defend your beliefs, inspire your values in the world with confidence but with tenderness (seeking justice and compassion in all your moments and actions).
4:6 Do not waste away with worry. We cannot see ahead but our God prepares us because He can. Whenever you are unsure or unsteady revert to your faith. Communicate with God; not only is He listening to you, He's providing answers.
4:7 The peace and wisdom of God is going to guard you. He will make your heart strong and your mind wise, no unwanted thing or person will be able to disable your ability to persevere.
4:8-9 Contemplate. Surround your mind and heart with justice, truth, nature... there are lessons within the manifestations of life around us. Think deeply, observe. You will develop an ability perceive. You will grow with understanding and wisdom as you broaden your mind and familiarize yourself with Spirit.
We are loved and our potential (and fulfillment) for compassionate impacts on this world are the joy of creation. The life inside of us is evidence of creation's crown: its ability to inspire justice and compassion within manifestations of free life. How beautiful a moment it must be for God when one of His children chooses His way of life. It is not enforced, rather we are given the ability to choose our way. It is a beautiful moment not when we conform to His way but when we naturally identify with it, with Him. Not out of fear but out of agreement.
So stay focused in faith, Paul encourages. There is so much more to life than is thought and visible. So much love and life awaits.
4:2-3 Help the children of God and the fellow workers of His spiritual philosophy. We are here as instruments of justice and compassion therefore fulfill your purpose! Strive to match your potential.
4:4 Rejoice in our Creator. Be filled with joy because that is the frequency of all creator. Compared to the life that follows, this life is flimsy: unworthy of worry. From within this temporary classroom, seek faith, seek joy. There are bumps here: lessons, as any self-respecting and instructive classroom does. Your faith is going to guide you over those bumps, around them, through them... rejoice because the universe is awaiting your permission to provide you joy.
4:5 Be gentle in that your reputation becomes one of truth and sincerity. Defend your beliefs, inspire your values in the world with confidence but with tenderness (seeking justice and compassion in all your moments and actions).
4:6 Do not waste away with worry. We cannot see ahead but our God prepares us because He can. Whenever you are unsure or unsteady revert to your faith. Communicate with God; not only is He listening to you, He's providing answers.
4:7 The peace and wisdom of God is going to guard you. He will make your heart strong and your mind wise, no unwanted thing or person will be able to disable your ability to persevere.
4:8-9 Contemplate. Surround your mind and heart with justice, truth, nature... there are lessons within the manifestations of life around us. Think deeply, observe. You will develop an ability perceive. You will grow with understanding and wisdom as you broaden your mind and familiarize yourself with Spirit.
4:10 Paul is thankful to his fellow workers for caring for him. It is a humbling moment to realize that we are loved and care for. It is a transformation moment because we realize our ability to impact here hearts and minds and lives. We confront our presence here.
4:11 "...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..." An amazing lesson from Paul: As we develop our spirituality we will reach a stage of stoic serenity. We develop an ability to analyze purpose in the world and can thus understand the unfolding of events, even the adversity and disparity. We grow to understand that our souls, our true life, are independent from this earth. That even in death here we thrive into and with life. We trust in our creator, knowing that what we endure has reason. We accept the position here as human-beings, as willing participants/students of life rather than happenstance manifestations of it.
We realize that no matter how trying the circumstance, where we are is not where we will always be. We find comfort and purpose in the fact that God places His children in the places where they can be most valuable to humanity and to themselves.
4:12 God's children are taught to have a balance: to perceive themselves not as mountains in arrogance but as movers of mountains in humility. To understand themselves as not the creators of justice and compassion but the promoters and defenders of it! The implements through which they reach humanity. Paul has learned to be contented with his circumstances but also hungry to improve the earth for humanity. Paul has learned to find value in adversity because it prods out of him understanding, perseverance, strength.
4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Christ is the manifestation, symbol and characterization of Spirit, spirituality, compassion, justice, truth, wisdom. Through these natural qualities of God we are inspired, guided, defended, encouraged through all things. Through all adversity. Against any adversary.
4:14-15 From the beginning of this epistle, Paul has expressed his gratitude and love for the Philippians consistent and compassionate faith and work in faith. Paul has always been able to trust and lean on the Philippians pillar of generosity and love. This verse not only teaches us to be grateful for the people in our lives who might match this description but also teaches us to BE these people. To be pillars of generosity and love to the people in our lives.
4:16-17 Paul is grateful for the strong, faithful message the Philippians generous work provides to humanity. Paul is saying: thank you for being kind to be, but thank you especially for exhibiting kindness. The world and humanity require such exhibitions in order to learn and grow and find comfort.
Our thoughts, behavior and actions here abound. They travel; they make reverberations around the world. What we do, who we are matters, influences humanity and contributes to the health (or detriment) of the earth.
4:18 Paul is filled. His faith fills him and ensures that he is never in need or deficient of anything. Let faith fill you. So many humans are searching for meaning and are coming up empty handed. We are here to be meaningful and our faith instructs us on how to do so. We are filled by filling others needs.
4:19 "God shall supply all your need..." directs us to Matthew 6:8 "... for your Father (God) knows what you need before you ask Him." Our creators knows what we need, what we will need, when precisely we need it. We are intricately loved and cared for. We need not worry... with your permission, He's going to provide.
4:20 Glory to our creator forever and ever, indeed, for being such a selfless, capable provider for His children. And for so much more!
4:11 "...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..." An amazing lesson from Paul: As we develop our spirituality we will reach a stage of stoic serenity. We develop an ability to analyze purpose in the world and can thus understand the unfolding of events, even the adversity and disparity. We grow to understand that our souls, our true life, are independent from this earth. That even in death here we thrive into and with life. We trust in our creator, knowing that what we endure has reason. We accept the position here as human-beings, as willing participants/students of life rather than happenstance manifestations of it.
We realize that no matter how trying the circumstance, where we are is not where we will always be. We find comfort and purpose in the fact that God places His children in the places where they can be most valuable to humanity and to themselves.
4:12 God's children are taught to have a balance: to perceive themselves not as mountains in arrogance but as movers of mountains in humility. To understand themselves as not the creators of justice and compassion but the promoters and defenders of it! The implements through which they reach humanity. Paul has learned to be contented with his circumstances but also hungry to improve the earth for humanity. Paul has learned to find value in adversity because it prods out of him understanding, perseverance, strength.
4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Christ is the manifestation, symbol and characterization of Spirit, spirituality, compassion, justice, truth, wisdom. Through these natural qualities of God we are inspired, guided, defended, encouraged through all things. Through all adversity. Against any adversary.
4:14-15 From the beginning of this epistle, Paul has expressed his gratitude and love for the Philippians consistent and compassionate faith and work in faith. Paul has always been able to trust and lean on the Philippians pillar of generosity and love. This verse not only teaches us to be grateful for the people in our lives who might match this description but also teaches us to BE these people. To be pillars of generosity and love to the people in our lives.
4:16-17 Paul is grateful for the strong, faithful message the Philippians generous work provides to humanity. Paul is saying: thank you for being kind to be, but thank you especially for exhibiting kindness. The world and humanity require such exhibitions in order to learn and grow and find comfort.
Our thoughts, behavior and actions here abound. They travel; they make reverberations around the world. What we do, who we are matters, influences humanity and contributes to the health (or detriment) of the earth.
4:18 Paul is filled. His faith fills him and ensures that he is never in need or deficient of anything. Let faith fill you. So many humans are searching for meaning and are coming up empty handed. We are here to be meaningful and our faith instructs us on how to do so. We are filled by filling others needs.
4:19 "God shall supply all your need..." directs us to Matthew 6:8 "... for your Father (God) knows what you need before you ask Him." Our creators knows what we need, what we will need, when precisely we need it. We are intricately loved and cared for. We need not worry... with your permission, He's going to provide.
4:20 Glory to our creator forever and ever, indeed, for being such a selfless, capable provider for His children. And for so much more!
4:21-23 A goodbye and blessing from Paul to the Philippians. Grace of our Creator be with you all. Amen.
