Today’s weather report from heaven: Sunny and bright with an abundance of light, and lots of singing and rejoicing.
Scripture: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”– Philippians 4:11-13
Insight: As we continue to look at the contentment that the Apostle Paul was able to achieve despite circumstances that anyone else looking in from the outside would say were horrific at best, we should draw hope from the fact that Paul has left us a roadmap for finding the same peace and serenity that is not circumstantial at all. It is way above circumstances, and it is rooted in the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, who Paul knew was alone worthy of all his praise and affection. In fact, Paul referred to having “learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or living in want.” What was the secret Paul had found? It was his knowledge that Jesus was above anything that he was facing or would ever face. It was his knowledge that Jesus was in fact a King, and his Kingdom was in fact eternal, and no matter what anyone did to Paul, they could never separate him from His eternal destiny and his reunion with Jesus. It allowed Paul to pen with confidence in Romans 8:18 one of my favorite verses in all the Bible that “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” That sentiment reeks of an unshakeable faith, one that could not be threatened by changing circumstances, no matter how dire they seemed. All Pau wanted was more of Christ. As a result he was content. According to Max Lucado, in his book “Anxious for Nothing,” you and I can learn the same. Christ-based contentment turns us into strong people. Since no one can take our Jesus, no one can take our joy. Death, failure, betrayal, sickness, sin, failure, disappointments- they cannot take our joy, because they cannot take our Jesus.”
One of my favorite songs by Hillsong United is called ‘Christ Is Enough.” It shares many of the same sentiments that Paul shared throughout his epistles. His relationship with Jesus was an unshakeable joy factory that was above his circumstances. Some of my favorite lyrics of the song Christ Is Enough go like this: Christ my all in all, the joy of my salvation. And this hope will never fail, Heaven is our home. Through every storm, my soul will sing. Jesus is here, to God be the glory. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back. We can see with our eyes and feel in our hearts that this world is falling apart, and we must decide in our hearts if we are going to cling to the fallen world or “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,” as Romans 12:2 says. If we want to find the secret to contentment that surpasses all understanding, we will need to go all in on Jesus, and leave the world behind us. No turning back, no turning back!
Prayer: Father God, thank You that in Your Son Jesus we can have the stability and contentment we need to survive in the world in any situation because of His strength living in us. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. Amen!
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