A Dimming of the Peripherals

I have always enjoyed the book of Philippians though until today I had not known why.

This morning as  I began my (sometimes) daily Bible study I decided to do a little research on the setting of Philippians. It's a sweet story.



Paul and companions were traveling on one of their missionary journeys when Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia begging them to "Come over and help!" I find it interesting that in Philippi it was not a man however that was Paul's first contact/convert. Apparently the city did not have a large enough population of male Jews (10 according to tradition) to build a synagogue which is where Paul would have usually started sharing the gospel. Instead, devout women gathered at the river to pray and there Paul found them. Lydia, a woman who sold purple (and undoubtedly a Gentile) trusted the Lord and convinced Paul and Co. to stay at her house. All went well until Paul got annoyed with a local demon possessed servant girl and commanded the spirit to come out of her. The girl's masters got Paul and Silas thrown into prison. One earthquake and a terrified jailer later Paul and Silas were let go with the request that they leave the city. They obliged.

At the time of Paul's writing the letter to the Philippians he was in prison in Rome. The Philippians, after many years of financially supporting Paul despite their own poverty, had sent one of their beloved members, Epaphroditus, to visit and encourage the apostle.

Despite Paul's short time with the church in Philippi the letter is very affectionate. He comforts, encourages, and strengthens the people to continue following the Lord. There is very little correction.

What I noticed today however is the way Paul seems preoccupied.

In previous letters, i.e. Romans and the Corinthians, the apostle is full of passion for rooting out the evil. He delivers scathing rebukes, rails against worldliness, and grieves over a lack of fire for the Lord.  In Philippians however he seems distracted by the thought of his impending death, or rather, the possibility that he may soon be seeing the Lord.

In the light of that, everything else dims. He is not depressed that he gets no longer to enjoy this life, he is rejoicing at the idea of retiring from service and getting to rest in the presence of his maker.

"Persevering towards the end" becomes his theme. In Chapter 3 he calls us to leave worldly things behind. The things that make us feel unworthy and the things that we considered advantages,  and instead turn our eyes to the Lord and focus on Him alone.

¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There is not much that truly matters in this life, Paul urges. So pay attention to the things that do and put it all in the Lord's hands. He is coming, and is already very near, don't bother to fret about temporal things.

Philippians 4 says:
  

⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul doesn't promise that when we take something to God that we are worried about He will fix our problem. No, but if we trust Him to work it out for our good we will be given that un-comprehensable peace He has promised. 

There are sad things out there but we are urged not to pay much attention to them. Instead, we are to think about the true things, the honorable things, the pure things, the just things the lovely things, the commendable things, the excellent things, the praiseworthy things.  

And to give thanks in everything, because it is all a gift from God.

(P.S. Happy Independence Day to all of my American readers!)