Daily Devotional For Sunday, January 7,2024
Today, I want to pick up where we left off yesterday. If you read yesterday's devotional, you know I wrote about how Jeremiah 29:11, is often misused because it is misunderstood. Today, I want to point out another Scripture passage that is often misused because it is misunderstood. Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (ESV). All things? It sounds like the description of Superman, "“FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET, MORE POWERFUL THAN A LOCOMOTIVE, ABLE TO LEAP TALL BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE BOUND!” Well, nothing could be further from the truth.
As you read yesterday, context is important. Philippians 4:13 comes after Philippians 4:11-12, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (12) I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need" (ESV). The Apostle Paul is writing to Christians in Phillipi from prison in Rome from 61 AD to 62 AD. They were saddened for his imprisonment and they were beginning to experience persecution for their Christian faith. He wants to encourage them and lift them up. He is not writing from an attitude of persecution nor a painful experience. He is writing to them to give them hope so that they will persevere no matter what.
Years later Paul would write this to the church at Corinth: 2 Corintians 11:24-28, "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; (26) on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; (27) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (28) And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches" (ESV).
The Apostle Paul was writing from personal experience from having to do with little or nothing much at all. The Apostle Paul had truly learned how to live on little or nothing at all such as extreme hunger from lack of adequate food, extreme heat and extreme cold, being soaking wet and while shivering and treading in the open ocean, and facing the scourging heat and humidity of a prison cell. He had learned to be content? How? -- he sought and pursued the cross no matter its price.
This verse is not telling us we can do anything in our own strength no matter what it; nor is it telling us we can do anything in the world we want to do either. We find this truth in 1 Corithians 10:23, "You say, `All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. `All things are lawful,' but not all things build up" (ESV). The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "You say, `All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]." Paul discovered that the goal of the Christian is not an easy, painless life, but to have Christ's character molded into our lives.
Philippians 4:13 is not a promise from God that if we do not study for an exam, we can at our desk, claim this verse, thinking we are going to get an A or do well. It is not a verse to claim a win for NC State when it is playing against Carolina or Duke. The context of this verse is that God will give the believer supernatural strength to take up their cross so that they can follow Jesus wherever that may lead as as He did with the Apostle Paul. How would you answer the following questions?:
- When have you used this verse incorrectly and what was the result?
- Why did you "claim it" in that situation?
- Have you ever claimed it for God to help you get through a situation where your faith was being put to the test?
- The Apostle Paul said he had learned to be content no matter the situation: little or much; hot or cold, dry or wet, on land or treading water in the open sea. Does this describe you? Why or why not?
- Having read this devotional now, has anything changed in your mind about using Philippians 4:13 in the future? if so, what?
Nowhere in the Bible does God promises us absolute power or ability to do anything we want. What He has promised us, is to give us the supernatural ability to endure anything for our faith in Him. Ever since the first century, Christians have endured suffering, persecution and martyrdom for their faith in Christ. On a few rare occasions, there were divine interventions. Notice the word "rare."
The Apostle Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 11:10-13, "Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. (8) Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. (9) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (10) That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (ESV).
What I love about this passage is this shows us two facts: (a) How God may react to our prayers and (b) How the Apostle Paul reacted to how God answered his prayers. Like Paul, we want God to shield us, protect us and free us from difficulties and discomforts, especially if they are chronic. God gave Paul the ability to keep going under affliction but also gave Paul an affliction that kept him humble. Instead of getting bitter, resentful, and walking away from God, Paul trusted God to know what was best for his life and he used this for God's glory. Paul was so grateful for God's grace, he never developed a grudge against God. What we learn from this context is: God is more interested in developing our character than in making us comfortable. How might God be doing the same thing in your own life right now? Take a moment to really ponder the answer to this question. Thank you.
Scripture to Meditate On: Psalm 119:28, "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word!" (ESV).
Prayer to Pray: "Dear Jesus, help me to apply the biblical context of Philippians 4:13 to my life. If you are allowing hardships, pain, suffering, and misunderstandings in my life, help me to trust that You know what is best for me. If these are to keep my humble and to totally rely on You, I submit my life to Your grace and will. Like the Apostle Paul, help me to use this for Your glory, a witness and testimony of Your grace, so that others will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior also. In Jesus' name, Amen!"