Verse: Phillipians 4:13
Context: Phillipians 4:10-20
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13 offers a powerful promise to believers when taken in context.
Paul writes this letter of thanks to the Phillipians from prison (Phil. 1:13-14). Paul was charged and imprisoned for preaching the gospel throughout the Roman empire, and it is thought that Phillipians was written while he was under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28). Paul writes that he has learned to be content in hunger and in plenty.
Paul's mission was to preach, serve and live for God in the Roman empire. Our mission as believers is to do the same seeking for our words, actions, and thoughts to glorify him though we are still imperfect in this life. In this context, we can know that God will give us the strength to live for him and will provide for all our needs during our life though our circumstances are not always easy. The promise in Phillipians 4:6-7 is a promise of peace during times of anxiety, and Phillipians 4:13 goes further to promise God's strength to support our actions in doing his will.
I like this entry very much, Ben!
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest things to do is to surrender all to God, and to genuinely trust that He will handle it, and bring us through the struggles we might be facing. I certainly have trouble doing that, but it s a great comfort to me to know that He is near.