Aug 25, 2021
Have you ever been downright stuck in a difficult situation? Maybe you’ve held a job with a colleague or supervisor you didn’t see eye to eye with, and other career opportunities were scarce. Maybe you’ve been halfway through the semester and realized you’re headed for a poor grade, but it’s too late to drop the class. Maybe you’ve struggled in a relationship with a spouse or close family member, and you are wading through heartbreak with every interaction.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the people at Philippi, he was in a tough spot. He wrote this letter from prison in Rome — an uncomfortable place to be sure. He was in prison not for what we would consider a crime, but for his faith in Jesus Christ. But Paul had a secret.
Philippians 4:11 says, “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.”
From the moment Paul received the Lord as his Savior, he began to love and experience Christ in a meaningful way. Chapter after chapter, the book of Philippians reveals that experiencing Christ was Paul’s secret to contentment. Paul preached contentment through faith in Jesus from behind bars and reached out to his brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them to choose contentment in the Lord. Paul’s example inspired his friends at Philippi, and continues to inspire believers today.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we won’t achieve perfection this side of heaven, but we know your plan for us is for peace in our hearts, and contentment in our lives. Let us live by the Apostle Paul’s example, choosing contentment in all circumstances in your name. Amen.