Philippians 4:6-9 –Focusing on God Brings Peace

^"6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:6-9  (NIV, emphasis added).

Four things jumped out at me as I dug into this scripture.

First, Paul and his Philippian readers were living in dangerous circumstances. The Roman system operated on the premise that Ceasar was a god who must be worshipped. See generally, Roman Religion - The Imperial Cult Explained (The SPQR Historian).  Rome had little tolerance for those who bucked that system, as Christians necessarily did. Indeed, that’s why Paul was incarcerated when he wrote this scripture. Philippians 1:12-14. Those risks were particularly acute in Philippi because it was a hot bed of the Ceasar Cult, being largely populated by retired Roman veterans. Book of Philippians Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Bible Project). 

Second, Paul urged his readers not to be overwhelmed by those circumstances, but to cope with them by focusing on God. He told them to “not be anxious,” and gave them ways to allay their fears. He explained that they could obtain peace in the midst of their precarious situation by bringing their fears to God, being grateful for His past provision, fixing their minds on the good things that come from Him, and following Paul’s godly example. Philippians 4:6-9. 

Third, the Greek words underlying Paul’s instructions provide some detail on how to follow that advice:

-              The words translated as “prayer” and “petition” describe intense prayer. They referred to “earnestly” seeking God’s help and making “entreaty” to Him. Paul was urging focused, heartfelt, conversation with God about deepfelt fears. 

-              “Thanksgiving” referred to gratitude, and that requires recollection and consideration of past instances of God’s faithfulness. That must have given peace about God’s willingness to get the Philippians through what they were presently facing. Maybe that’s why Paul told other disciples, likely facing similar threats, to “give thanks in all circumstances[.]” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

-              The phrase “think about” in verse 9 is a weak translation of a much stronger Greek word. The underlying word meant to “deliberate” on something, to give it “consideration,” and to “carefully reflect on” it. Paul is urging more than passing thought of the virtues he mentioned, he is telling the Philippians togive them deep, ongoing, contemplation, something akin to what God prescribed in Joshua 1:8-9  as a remedy for anxiety. That must have provided a powerful tonic.

-              Paul’s direction to “practice” the virtues he modeled was a direction to give those virtues continuous thought. The underlying Greek word described being busy with, habitually, and repeatedly performing something. Paul was therefore suggesting that the virtues he modeled be continually front of mind for the Philippians.

Fourth, those instructions are relevant today. Our culture gives political leaders, celebrities, sports heroes, and other things the type of exalted status that can easily distract from Christ. They compete for our attention and potentially shape our attitudes in the same ways that the Ceasar Cult did in the Philippians’ day. We are therefore wise to follow Paul’s prescription of prayer, thanksgiving, meditation on virtues, and emulation of Godly examples.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.  Amen.

Additional Resources

Similar principles can be gleaned from the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles: God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him and Wisdom Principles: Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth  

Lamentations 3:19-26—Dealing with Desolation

“Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:19-26, emphasis added, NASB, other translations available here)

 

Although today’s reading is part of the “out of context” series, some context is necessary to fully appreciate it. It is part of the book of Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem. The circumstances were truly cataclysmic.  The temple, the heart of Judean religion, had been destroyed. Judah’s social, religious, and political orders had been obliterated and most of its citizens had been forcibly exiled. All this came after a horrific siege. It must have been especially hard for Jeremiah because he had been warning Judah’s leaders that this was coming unless they changed their corrupt ways, but they ignored him. Book of Lamentations Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Bible Project); Book of Jeremiah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Bible Project).  Jeremiah must have been in a truly desolate state. 

Today’s reading describes the ways Jeremiah coped with that desolation. It describes several distinct responses that can also help us when we face difficult circumstances. 

One is to humbly contemplate what led to those circumstances. Lamentations 3:20. The Hebrew word  translated as “remember” meant, among other things, to consider, meditate about, think through a topic. This can help us understand what God wants us to learn from or appreciate about the situation. That can help us to make some sense of difficult circumstances, and that can give us some measure of peace. 

Another is to “recall” God’s past faithfulness, to “hope” for His help going forward, and to patiently “wait” for it. Lamentations 3:21-24. Jeremiah’s direction here is consistent with other scripture. Multiple psalms describe responding to distress by recalling God’s faithfulness and hoping in Him. See e.g. Psalm 42:2-3; Psalm 71:14-17; Psalm 77:11-15. It is also consistent with Saint Paul’s instruction to give thanks in all circumstances, written from prison to people facing difficulties of their own. Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15-17.  The commonality is bringing the fact that God can, and desires to, bless you to mind in situations where it’s otherwise hard to perceive His blessing

A third is to “seek” the Lord. Lamentations 3:25. The underlying Hebrew word  described intense communication, fully discussing a situation with God.  This is also consistent with other scripture. Paul and James, folks who were well grounded in God, likewise told us to bring our problems to Him when we are in distress. Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:2-5.  

Finally, if I may be so bold, let me suggest an additional response: do something that counteracts, helps mitigate, the desolation you find yourself in.  Psalm 37:1-3  tells us to “do good” when we are in distressing circumstances.  If your distress is caused by someone’s bad behavior, pray for that person. If it is based on someone else’s tough circumstances, do something to help.  If it is the result of something you messed up, do something to clean it up. My experience is that the very act of addressing a distressing situation gives some relief from the distress, even if it doesn’t eliminate what caused it.

These responses are as sound today as they were when the scriptures just discussed were written. Hopefully we will never experience something as devastating as Jeremiah did, but if those responses helped him deal with the catastrophe he was facing, they will likely help us. They probably won’t produce instant results, and they probably won’t be easy to execute, but we will probably be better off if we try them than if we don’t.

Prayer

Father, please protect us from trials, but when they come, help us to understand what you want us to learn from them, to recall and rely upon your faithfulness, to frankly discuss them with you, and to see and do what we can do to mitigate them. We ask this in Jesus’ name. 

2 Peter 1:16 & 1 John 1:1-3—Being eyewitnesses

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV, emphasis added).

 

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” 1 John 1:1-3 (NIV, emphasis added).

 

 

Peter and John’s testimony had great power because they were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ actions when He was physically with them. Although we can’t do that now that Jesus has ascended, we can do something similar: be eyewitnesses to God’s actions in our day to day lives.

Jesus is God and God acts in each of our lives. He provides for us materially. He gives us work to do and the abilities and opportunities to do it. He tempers, guides, and directs us through His Holy Spirit. He blesses us through relationships. He does those things every day for every believer, we see Jesus when we see God, John 14:8-10, so we are eyewitnesses to Jesus when we see His actions in our lives. 

How do you do that? Two ways come to mind.

One is by regularly, intentionally, looking for His actions in your life. Take 10 or 15 minutes sometime during each day to sit with God, ask Him to show you how he acted in your life during the past day, and then review that day chronologically, looking for the good things that happened. No matter how tough your day was, you will see some good that God provided to you or others around you. If you’re having trouble seeing them, review the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and consider how you saw them in yourself or others during the day. This exercise is sort of like one of Jesus’ original disciples recalling what he saw earlier in his day with Him.

Another is by asking God what you should learn from those things. Ask Him what set the stage for the divine actions you recognized. Ask him how you could better conduct/position yourself to participate in His actions going forward.  Ask Him to help you be more attentive to his actions in the coming day.  That’s sort of like one of Jesus’ first disciples asking Him to better understand what He was doing.

Prayer:

Lord, draw us to you daily to examine how you are acting in our lives. Give us eyes to see the ways you have blessed, guided, empowered, and protected us during the past day. Help us to see what you would have us learn from those actions. We ask this in the name of Him we desire to know more fully, Jesus the Christ.

 

Additional Resources

Additional information about this practice can be found at Gratitude and Petition–The Daily Prayer of Discernment. Although it comes from a Catholic ministry, nothing in its content seems inconsistent with Lutheran theology. 

Doing Our Part

This week's readings have described how we are changed when we are in Christ and He is in us. They revealed that most of that change comes from God; Hetransforms us through His Holy Spirit. But they also explained that we have a part to play in the process.  

So what is our part? The readings describe several things.

One is to be willing to accept the changes, to welcome them. Jesus explained that we gain our lives by losing, letting go of, our old ways. Luke 9:24. Saint Paul explained that we should no longer be conformed to the world, that we should “put off” our old ways, and be “transformed” by the changes God would work in us. Romans 12:2;  Ephesians 4:22. Those changes will not make us “weird,” but will bring out the very best in us, the good God created us to deliver.  We will be different, but better and more fruitful. We can trust that God will change us for the better.

Another is to be mentally focused on God. The changes come as a result of, among other things, our “meditate[ing]” on the ways God manifests His goodness. Philippians 4:8 .  The Greek word translated as “meditate” describes making God’s goodness the subject of thoughtful consideration and reflection, to think on those things.  That direction is consistent with other scriptures; Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Psalm 1:1-3; and Proverbs 7:1-5  also describe how mentally focusing on God and His ways transforms us.

A third is to take concrete action on what God directs, and to do so repeatedly. We are to “take up,” “practice,” and “put on” the specific changes God desires from us. Luke 9:24; Philippians 4:9; Ephesians 4:24.   Moreover, we are to do so on a “daily” basis. Luke 9:23. Such repeated actions build habits and habits grow into the virtue God offers us.  We and others will be glad if we act on that offer. See also  5 Practical Steps to Grow in Virtue (How to Bear “Fruit”) .

 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, please change us into what you want us to be. Help us to let go of what hinders that. Direct our minds to what fosters that. Help us to do, and keep doing, what you direct us to. We ask this in Jesus’ name

Additional resources 

Scriptures addressing similar matters are collected at Wisdom Principles--We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It  and We Receive Great Blessings If We Seriously Study God’s Ways and Put Them Into Practice   

1 Peter 2:4-6—“Cornerstone & “Living Stones”

Peter wrote the letter we know as 1 Peter to folks who felt like aliens in their communities because they faithfully followed Jesus. They suffered real hardships and Peter offered multiple pieces of advice on how to live in those circumstances.

Today’s reading is one of those pieces of advice. Peter told his readers to consider Jesus to be their “cornerstone” and themselves to be “living stones” that would be joined into a structure that God was building.  1 Peter 2:4-6.

What does that mean? We can get some specifics by understanding what a “cornerstone” was and thinking about what is involved in a stone becoming part of a building.

“Cornerstone.” In Peter’s day a cornerstone was not just a stone that listed information about the building. Instead, it was the foundation for the whole structure. It provided benchmarks for the horizontal and vertical lines of the building’s walls. It had to be of extraordinary quality to maintain its integrity under the stresses the building would be subjected to over time. See A Christian Stone Mason's Look At The Cornerstone. 

It’s easy to see how Jesus is analogous to a cornerstone. He is the foundation for all of creation. He created it. John 1:3. He sets creation’s dimension because He is the “logos” or logic that underlies it. John 1:1-3; Jesus is the Logos (ummm…what?)  . He holds it together. Colossians 1:17. He will always be/do those things. Hebrews 13:8. We are therefore wise to look to and rest upon Jesus in dealing with the stresses in our lives.

“Living Stones.” This metaphor requires a little imagination to unpack. What would be required to be a useful “stone” that is going to be part of a building? Several things come to mind.

The stone must be willing to be modified. Stones rarely come out of the ground in the condition and shape needed. At a minimum long accumulated dirt must be removed. Parts will likely need to be chiseled off. What’s left might need to be polished.  Similar things are likely necessary for us to be the parts of God’s building He intends us to be. That’s probably why scripture places so much emphasis on being open to God’s correction.  See the scriptures collected at  Wisdom Principles--Rebuke & Openness to Correction . 

The stone must also be willing to be aligned with Jesus.  As previously discussed, He is the cornerstone, the benchmark, that sets the location for every stone that will be incorporated into the structure God is building. Individual believers must align themselves with what Jesus wants to fulfill His purposes for each of them. That often requires that we change our plans and abandon our priorities, but the result will ALWAYS be better if we do that. Proverbs 3:5-8, 11-12. 

The stone must also be joined to others.  An individual brick doesn’t do much good unless it is joined with others, and the same is true of us. We must plug into community to reach our full potential.  Some great ways to do that are discussed here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

***

We cannot honestly say that Christians in 21^st century America face the level of hardship Peter’s readers faced, but we also can’t deny that we will be somewhat alienated from contemporary society if we truly follow Jesus.  If the advice Peter gave his readers helped them cope with the far greater alienation they faced, they will definitely help us in our less severe, but nonetheless real, challenges. We are therefore wise to follow that advice.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, draw us to Jesus. Help us make Him the foundation and benchmarks for our lives. Help us align our lives to His plans, to be willing to change to fit into those plans, and to join evermore closely with fellow believers. We ask this in His name.

 

Praying 1 Peter 4:7-11

^“The end of all things is near, so keep your minds calm and sober for prayer. Above all preserve an intense love for each other, since love covers over many a sin. Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling. Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others. If anyone is a speaker, let it be as the words of God, if anyone serves, let it be as in strength granted by God; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:7-11(New Jerusalem Bible, emphasis added, other translations available here)

 

Peter gave us specific directions on how to live as we await Jesus’ return: to pray, to love each other, to concretely and cheerfully bless each other, and to use the gifts God gives us to bless others. Those things do not come naturally, so let’s pray for help with them.

 

“[K]eep your minds calm and sober for prayer.” Holy Spirit, please:

-       Draw us into conversation with you.  Help us to recognize that those conversations will be far better than anything that would distract us from them.

-       “Calm,” settle, us. Remove, separate us from, things that agitate us and their effects. Help us to curb passions and moderate emotions that interfere with our hearing what you are saying.

-       “Sober” us up. Free us from the influence of intoxicants, things that distort or obscure the truth, be they chemical, relational, or media driven, so that we can honestly and fruitfully converse with you.

-       Please do these things on an ongoing basis; “keep” at it as we move through our days so we can “keep” communicating with you.

-       Help us to engage our “mind[s]” in that prayer; help us to think about what we are experiencing and have experienced, to do so with the benefit of your wisdom, and to bring those thoughts to you. Help us to ponder what you show us.

 

“Above all preserve an intense love for each other.” Please:

-       Help us to prioritize our relationships, to put them “above all.” 

-       Help us to “love” each other, to cultivate real affection for those you have put us in relationship with.

-       Help us to “intense[ly]” pursue that love, to be willing to stretch ourselves, especially with regard to those we have trouble loving. Help us to remember that love is often a verb, not an emotion. 

 

“Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling.” Holy Spirit, please:

-       Give us eyes to see how we can provide concrete help to each other, to see the things we can do or provide to meet others’ human needs. 

-       Help us to approach this with generous hearts, trusting that you will provide what we need and that we will find joy in the process of meeting others’ needs.

 

“Like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others * * * if anyone serves, let it be as in strength granted by God.” Please:

-       Help us to recognize that you have given each one of us gifts so that we can be delivery systems for your love; that we each have some way(s) we can bless others. Help us each to look for and recognize the particular gifts you have given us.

-       Help us to intentionally, actively, look for ways we can use your gifts to bless others. Give us eyes to see those ways.

-       Get us past any reticence we may have about putting those gifts to work; help us to trust that you will empower us to deliver the love you want delivered in the ways you want it delivered. Help us to recognize that you give us joy when we serve you by serving others.

 

We ask these things in the name of He who is indeed coming–Jesus the Christ.

 

1 Peter 4:7-11 Annotated

New International Version

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

alert = σωφρονέω = sōphroneō  Blue Letter Bible be of sound mind; to think soberly; sober-minded; temperate, self-controlled; to put a moderate estimate upon one's self, think of one's self soberly; to curb one's passions; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   be sound of mind; be temperate, moderate, show self-control; come to one's senses, learn moderation; done with discretion

sober minded  = νήφω = nēphō  Blue Letter Bible  free from the influence of intoxicants; metaphorically, it does not in itself imply watchfulness, but is used in association with it; to abstain from wine; is used metaphorically of moral "alertness," and translated "to watch," to be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   to be sober, drink no wine; to be self-controlled; wary; recover oneself

pray = προσευχή = proseuchē  Blue Letter Bible  prayer addressed to God; a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer; prayer (worship); pray earnestly

love = ἀγάπη = agape  Blue Letter Bible  affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  the love of husband and wife; brotherly love, charity

 

deeply = ἐκτενής = ektenēs Blue Letter Bible  strained, stretched; fervent; intently, strenuously; earnestly; assiduously; without ceasing; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  stretch out; offer food; straighten; outstretched, lie at length; extend; spread out; unfolded, smoothed; spin out, prolong; put to the full stretch; put forth all one's zeal; lengthen; draw along; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon (alternate definition) strained; warmly attached, friendly; abundant; earnestly, zealously; eagerly, freely, splendidly

 

love = ἀγάπη = agape  Blue Letter Bible  affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  the love of husband and wife; brotherly love, charity

 

hospitality = φιλόξενος = philoxenos Blue Letter Bible  hospitable, generous to guests; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  loving strangers, hospitable

 

grumbling = γογγυσμός = gongysmos Blue Letter Bible  murmuring, muttering; of displeasure or complaining (more privately than in public); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  murmuring, muttering, grumbling

serve = διακονέω = diakoneō Blue Letter Bible to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon; to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests; to attend to anything, that may serve another's interests; wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); supply food and the necessaries of life, to relieve one's necessities;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon minister, do service; render a service

 

stewards = οἰκονόμος = oikonomos  Blue Letter Bible  one who rules a house; a superior servant responsible for the family housekeeping, the direction of other servants, and the care of the children under age; the manager of a household or estate; the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer; the superintendent of the city's finances, the treasurer of a city; metaph. the apostles and other Christian teachers and bishops and overseers; any and every Christian who rightly uses the gifts intrusted to him by God for the good of his brethren; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   one who manages a household; manager, administrator;  a subordinate state official; a high financial officer under a monarch; housekeeper, housewife

 

speaks = λαλέω = laleō Blue Letter Bible To say, utter, talk; to utter a voice or emit a sound; to utter articulate sounds; to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; preach; tell; promulgate; converse; commanding; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  talk, chat; speak

 

strength = ἰσχύς = ischys  Blue Letter Bible   might, strength, power; ability, force, strength; forcefulness; power (over external things) afforded by strength; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   strength of body; might, power; brute force; motive force, vigor