Courage for Life for Men - Flipbook - Page 17
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saw me doing. Then the God of peace will
be with you.
Paul’s Thanks for Their Gifts
10
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have
always been concerned for me, but you
didn’t have the chance to help me. 11Not
that I was ever in need, for I have learned
how to be content with whatever I have.
12
I know how to live on almost nothing or
with everything. I have learned the secret
of living in every situation, whether it is
with a full stomach or empty, with plenty
or little. 13For I can do everything through
Christ,* who gives me strength. 14Even so,
you have done well to share with me in my
present difficulty.
15
As you know, you Philippians were
the only ones who gave me financial help
when I first brought you the Good News
and then traveled on from Macedonia. No
other church did this. 16 Even when I was
in Thessalonica you sent help more than
once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a
gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18
At the moment I have all I need—and
more! I am generously supplied with the
gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus.
They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that
is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And
this same God who takes care of me will
supply all your needs from his glorious
riches, which have been given to us in
Christ Jesus.
20
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
PhiliPPians 4
listen to the Word
Listen to Philippians 4, and
reject the worldly lie that God
doesn’t care about your needs
and will never meet them.
Replace it with the truth that
God does care about your needs
and satisfies them according
to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus (see also Ps 40:17; Matt
6:25; 2 Cor 12:9).
Paul’s Final Greetings
21
Give my greetings to each of God’s holy
people—all who belong to Christ Jesus.
The brothers who are with me send you
their greetings. 22And all the rest of God’s
people send you greetings, too, especially
those in Caesar’s household.
23
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit.*
4:23 Some manuscripts add Amen.
Jesus gives us strength
4:11-13
P R A Y • Father, thank you for Jesus and his strength. Help me to surrender to your will so that I
may find true contentment no matter what my circumstances are.
O B S E R V E • Paul continued to show his appreciation to the Philippians for their gifts, but
he didn’t want them to miss out on an essential truth: Even during Paul’s imprisonment, he was
content. He shared the secret to his contentment—Jesus was providing him with strength. The
Philippians’ gifts were crucial to Paul’s ministry. Still, it was only by Jesus’ strength that Paul could
declare he was content in all things.
I N T E R P R E T • Paul demonstrated amazing dependence on God throughout his life and min-
istry. He wholly relied on God for the power and ability to thrive in all situations. We can have the
same strength that Paul had, but first we must surrender to God and his will. Only then can we
find contentment in Jesus regardless of the circumstances that come our way.
A P P LY • Overcome obstacles: What obstacles do
you need to overcome to
fully surrender your life to
God (4:12-13)? • Commit
to change: Journal your commitment to depend on God,
not on worldly things, for your
contentment (4:11).
As you finish the book of
Philippians, what additional
COURAGE steps will you commit to applying to your life?
