Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
I can remember going to track meets, when I was in high school and watching all of the various athletes participate in various races, pole vaulting, and the shot put. They had to spend weeks training to strengthen their bodies and have the endurance to finish strong. The Christian life is much the same. It takes time, dedication, and energy needed some days more than others. But just as a runner has the finish line in his vision, so we have our eternal home as the goal we will get to enter. Yes, someday Christ will bring everything under his control. I am having to remind myself of that more and more when reading or hearing today’s news reports. Sometimes living the Christian life takes more energy some days than others.
The critical point Paul was emphasizing to the Philippians was to “stand firm.” In the military, the soldier’s stance in battle in the front lines, holds their position firmly while under attack. As Paul warned in Ephe. 6:11, 13-14, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” We each need to put on that armor every morning, as perplexing problems will spring up and must be met and mixed with faith that God will meet our every need – Jehovah-Jireh.
So, what have you been facing this week? How do you maintain your position in Christ while under attack from the schemes of Satan? How have you done that in the past? Paul was admonishing the Philippians not to waver and to be firm in their faith. It takes developing spiritual stability, maintaining a spirit of joy, relying on God’s wisdom, and then the challenging application of learning to be content because even in the silence, God is right there with us (with me). As Paul said in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
Too often, we worry about what we are doing or how we are feeling. We analyze ourselves and then scrutinize the situation continually. It is often challenging for me to give my brain a rest from my work. Jon Courson said in his Application Commentary, New Testament: “But in reality, the joy, the crown, lies in sharing with people who don’t know Jesus, in praying for folks who will be cut off from Him unless they open their hearts to Him. I believe the reason Paul could talk so much about joy in this epistle – even while he was in chains – was because he was thinking about the people, he knew would be in heaven with him eternally because he had shared with them personally.”
Stand firm in where God has placed you in serving others. God may have given you the talents and skills to meet your need(s) but you may need to activate your faith in Him, and ask God to show you the steps you need to take. Do not give up. You have more value and worth than you know, and it is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).
I am needing to remind myself that despite all the chaos and dysfunction going on in our jobs and in this world, there is a “but.” But my citizenship is in heaven, and from it, I await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philip. 3:20. The only secure place is your position with Jesus Christ. Be alert. Be steadfast. Stand firm.