God Speaks
Dear brother Christians, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and my reward for my work. My beloved friends, stay true to the Lord.
2 And now I want to plead with those two dear women, Euodias and Syntyche. Please, please, with the Lord’s help, quarrel no more—be friends again. 3 And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked side by side with me in telling the Good News to others; and they worked with Clement, too, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are helping me again. I know you have always been anxious to send what you could, but for a while you didn’t have the chance. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; 13 for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. 14 But even so, you have done right in helping me in my present difficulty.
15 As you well know, when I first brought the Gospel to you and then went on my way, leaving Macedonia, only you Philippians became my partners in giving and receiving. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was over in Thessalonica you sent help twice. 17 But though I appreciate your gifts, what makes me happiest is the well-earned reward you will have because of your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me when Epaphroditus came. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases God well. 19 And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us. 20 Now unto God our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Sincerely, Paul
P.S. 21 Say hello for me to all the Christians there; the brothers with me send their greetings, too. 22 And all the other Christians here want to be remembered to you, especially those who work in Caesar’s palace. 23 The blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon your spirits.
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Paul longed to meet in person with the believers in Philippi because he considered their growth in living for Christ to be his joy and the Lord’s reward for his work among them. Whatever the disagreement between the two women, it could be resolved if they would come together and rejoice in the Lord; if they would be unselfish and considerate of each other; if they would remember that the Lord is coming soon; if they would not worry but pray about everything, and if they would tell God their problems and thank Him for His answers. Then they would experience God’s peace which is more wonderful than the human mind can grasp. His peace would keep their hearts and minds at rest as they trusted in Jesus and obeyed Him. What is most important is that we focus on whatever is true, good, right, pure, and lovely, and let our minds dwell on the fine, good traits in others. We need to be grateful and praise God for all He has done for us in Christ. If we want to experience the peace that only God can give, we must be continually putting into practice the principles Paul and the other writers of scripture taught and modeled. Like Paul, we need to learn to be content in whatever circumstances God has allowed in our lives. After all, “[we] can do everything God asks [us] to with the help of Christ who gives [us] the strength and power.” (Philippians 4:13 TLB) Our gifts to God’s workers are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases God. He will reward us for them in His time and in His way. In the meantime, we can trust Him to “supply all [our] needs from His riches in glory, because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.”
Prayer: Dear Father God who so graciously guides and provides for His children, please help me to put into practice the principles Paul laid out for the two quarrelling women. Please help me to rejoice in You always; seek to be unselfish and considerate of others; not to worry about anything, but to pray (talk with You) about everything; and always thank You in the midst of it all however You respond. Then You promise to give me Your peace of mind and heart. You always keep Your promises. Please help me to “[f]ix [my] thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all [I] can praise [You] for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all [I] learned from [Paul and other writers of scripture] and what [they modeled. Then You,] the God of peace will be with [me]. ” (Philippians 4:8-9 TLB) “Now unto [You] God our Father be glory forever and ever.” (Philippians 4:20) AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- Whenever I speak or interact with people (like on social media) I will follow this anonymous advice I was given: I will THINK first: T is it true? H is it helpful? I is it inspiring? N is it necessary? K is it kind?
- I will be on the lookout for how my brothers and sisters in Christ are carrying this out and compliment them.
- I will meet with a younger believer to encourage them and model the behaviors mentioned in this chapter.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to keep my mind focused on all the good, kind, beautiful things mentioned here.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.