This week we are in the last chapter of Philippians. As Paul wraps up his letter to the Christians in Philippi, there is much to hold on to and practice in our daily lives. Today’s focus is how to stand firm, and the exhortation to make our relationships right.
Philippians 4:1-3
” Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, I ask you, loyal yoke-follow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Remember, whenever you see a therefore, back up and see what it is THERE FOR. This first part of chapter 4, indicates that he had already written them instructions on how to stand firm in the Lord. The fact is, Paul had written a series of instructions leading up to this. There wasn’t just one thing that would make them firm in their standing, but a few things that when added together would make the difference.
Let’s review those things:
- Rejoice
- Put no confidence in the flesh, self.
- Live to Know Christ in and through everything
- Forget what is behind, press towards whats ahead
- Live with an eternal perspective, have a spiritually mature view
- Trust in God’s Power and that He brings everything under His control
Then what comes next is an exhortation to two women. They obviously were having trouble getting along…and though none of us can relate to not getting along with other people ( wink, wink…), it would be good to note how strongly Paul turns his attention to these two women. He asks the men to help them agree with each other in the Lord. Does this mean they have to think alike? Or could this mean that they need to agree to disagree, and to still love and respect each other? They were Christian women, in ministry with Paul, so we know that they loved the Lord and his people, but were somehow stuck in regards to each other.
Have you ever been stuck with relational woes?
It’s interesting how we seem to think that to love each other means to always get along or to always be in agreement. But, that is not what love is. Love is to walk in Agape, even when we don’t agree. It is not seeking our own opinion over another’s. It is laying down our right to be right…for the sake of loving another person.
I Cor 13
“Love is Patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keep record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Our relationships are obviously important, and that is why Paul takes this time to ask for help in getting these women to get along. He could have just swept this under the rug, let them worry about it themselves…but he didn’t. He asked the men there to make it a priority to help them work it out. The solution…just come to agreement with each other. What would that agreement be? That we are going to lay down the ax, agree to disagree, and walk in the love of the Lord Jesus.
Do you need to do this with anyone? If you are in relational turmoil, it can keep you from standing firm.
Did you realize that you don’t have to be right? Your opinion or your truth is not “right”, or “wrong”, but just different. None of us are perfectly “right”, so perhaps if you will resolve to the fact that the person you are having trouble with is just different than you…and quit trying to make the difference a ‘wrong’, you will be able to accept them in the Lord, and have a peaceable and even loving relationship with them.
- Rejoice…Thank God today all day for everything…And I mean everything
- Press on…Keep on Keeping on by Looking Up Often…..Lord, I look to you….
- Prespective….you are a citizen of heaven, live like it and make peace, humble yourself, don’t assume you are right, walk in love.
It’s going to be a good week.
living up,
Debbie
