Strength Needed

I wanted to share this with you: Many times we quote certain Bible verses like catchphrases, but without context, it's really just a misquote.

We're all familiar with Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." But it was interesting to me that Paul was writing this letter while in jail. I'm going to share verses 6-13 because in they say to not be anxious for anything, but to make our requests known to God with prayer and thanksgiving, then God will give us the peace to wait on Him. Paul says he learned to be content in whatever state he finds himself in -- certainly a strong message for a person in jail, but we can find meaning in that too, as young people learning to provide for ourselves and deal with life's ups and downs.

The verse about doing all things through Christ follows this: ^" I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Paul says he knows how to have plenty, and how to be in need. How to be abased (be low in esteem and rank), how to be in need, or to be at the top. But with Christ, we have the strength to get through either season!

Usually that verse is used to empower us - You can do it! Go get that job! Go get that husband! Go conquer that...whatever it is! I don't think I'd considered before that it was written in a sense that Christ would give us the strength to bear all things, the strength to do without, the strength to go through the inevitable periods of lacking.

I hope you get something from this too! Have a great week!

Philippians 4 (King James Version)

Philippians 4

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.