THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS accordance with God’s will as revealed in His Word. (4) “Whatsoever things are pure” ; not only the things which are chaste, but pure from defilement of any kind. (5) “Whatsoever things are lovely,” The word translated “ lovely” means “ winning love” or “ winsome,” “ pleasing.” True Christianity studies to please (cf. 1 Cor. 13:5). (6) “What soever things are of good report (or “ sweet spoken,” attractive, in the way of kindly speech).” (7) “ If there be any virtue (i. e., moral strength), and if there be any praise (i. e., that is justly worthy of praise),” These are the things to “ take account of,” to dwell upon in thought and esteem. We become like what we think about. If we think constantly of the false we will ourselves become false, if we think long of the inconsistencies of men, we will ourselves become inconsistent, if we think much of sins of impurity we will ourselves become impure, if we think of all true things we will become true, if we think of things honorable we will become worthy of honor, if we think of things worthy of reverence we will become persons whom all may respect. Paul now puts it more specifically. He refers them to what he has taught and said and done among them and says: “ The things which ye both learned (i. e. by my preaching and teaching) and received (as a truth passed on to you by me) and heard (in my manner of conversation) and £aw in me (that is, in my actions among you), these things do.” Happy the teacher who can safe ly and wisely say this to his disciples. Paul could, for he taught the word of God (cf, 1 Thess. 2:13) and lived the life of God. And now comes a won drous promise, “ And (as a result of doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me) the God of peace shall be with you.” In v. '7 we learned how to have “ the peace of God” and here we learn something bet ter, how to have “ the God of peace.” It is our privilege, our wondrous privilege to have Him as our everpresent friend (cf. Ps. 73:4). He is called “ the God of peace” because He bestows peace upon all who know Him (cf. John 14: 27; Rom. 15:33; 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20). TUESDAY, Oct. 29th. Phil. 4:10, 11. Paul now turns from his teaching and exhortation to personal acknowl edgment of their recent kindness to him, but in these acknowledgments are some of the most precious teachings of.
919
the whole letter. He speaks of their having “ at length” “ revived your thought for me.” The Authorized Vers ion translates “ your care of me hath flourished again.” A more literal translation than either would he “ at length ye have blossomed forth into thought in my behalf.” In this new blossoming of the life of love (which is the life of God— cf. 1 John 4:8) in them, he rejoiced, (cf. v. 17); but this joy after all was “ in the Lord” and not in them (cf. v. 4). Lest they might think a reproof lay in the words “ at length” he adds with kindly consider- ateness “ wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.” It is not every one who like Paul takes account of the kindness we would show them if we could. Paul would not have had them think that he even indi rectly was complaining of his need or poverty, so he says “ not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therein to be content.” He had learned a lesson, a lesson that lifted him above all com plaint or even mention of his want, a lesson that is one of the best any man can learn, a lesson that can only be learned in need and distress. Note care fully that Paul does not say as the Authorized Version makes him say, “ I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” He says as the Revised Version correctly renders it, “ I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content,” There are times when we ought not to be content with our state, but we always ought to be content in our state even when we are trying to get out of that state into a better one. The man who has his blessedness within himself (Christ dwelling within) will be independent of his environment, in any and all cir cumstances content. Here is another of the present privileges of the believer in Jesus Christ, never failing content ment. WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30. Phil. 4:12, IS. Paul here goes more into detail con cerning the lesson just mentioned which he has learned, viz., to be content in all circumstances. He says, “ I know how to be abased (or, “ low,” i. e., low in possession and comforts and supply of all needs).” Sometimes indeed he was very low (cf. 2 Cor. 11:27). “ And I know also how to abound” (when, for example, as in the present instance, his friends provided bountifully for his needs). It sometimes requires more
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter