Philippians 4: 14-23

Friday, July 03, 2015

Philippians 4: 14-23

I love verse 19. After Paul has cataloged all the many ways God has met his every need, he then assures his friends (and us), “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NRSV). God will meet your needs out of His riches in glory in Jesus! Is any need in your life too big for God to meet?

Paul follows this awesome promise with a simple benediction, “Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen” (Philippians 4:20). It seems the letter has concluded. But wait! There’s more!

If I were to write a musical score for Chapter 4, it would begin slowly, and then with each passage it would build until it reached the dramatic and surprising climax in verse 22. The score would build momentum through Paul’s encouragement to rejoice, pray, seek peace, focus my life on the things of God, follow the example of Paul, experience peace, and be content. The score reaches its highest point at “I can do everything through Christ,” then slows a bit before reaching a high again at “all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen” (Philippians 4: 13, 20).

But wait! There’s more! The music will continue in anticipation that something else is coming, and then you see it. “And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4: 22). Caesar’s household sends greetings to the church in Philippi!

Paul’s new community of believers has reached the most unlikely of places: Caesar’s household. Paul had asked his friends to pray for him, that he would boldly proclaim Christ even from his jail cell. This simple verse is a testimony that God honored Paul’s prayer request, and it is a towering reminder that God can use all of us exactly where we are. The fields are ripe and ready for harvest, now, if only we would see with the eyes of Jesus, if only we would love with the heart of Jesus.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms is available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ is available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.