This month, we are privileged to feature an article from Rev. Nimod Tica, Executive Director, on how we can embrace the promise of Philippians 4:13.
Dear friends,
The other day, I laced up my Steph Curry basketball shoes to play ball with young people from our community. I was wearing the shoes named after the three-point specialist whose favorite Scripture passage is Philippians 4:13. It was my first serious game in years. I say “serious” because it was competitive from beginning to end and my body was in serious pain after the game. I found out that no amount of declaring and claiming “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” was going to make me shoot consistent three-point shots and make me dribble the ball successfully through traffic against much younger and more agile opponents.
I have heard it said, “I can do all things through a Scripture passage taken out of context.” And my experience clearly proved the number 1 rule in Bible interpretation: “context is king.” After a few minutes of playing, I made one shot and my team lost by 1 point. My wife gave a positive spin on my experience: “you won because you finally did a full body workout!” I’ll take those words of encouragement any time.
The other day, I laced up my Steph Curry basketball shoes to play ball with young people from our community. I was wearing the shoes named after the three-point specialist whose favorite Scripture passage is Philippians 4:13. It was my first serious game in years. I say “serious” because it was competitive from beginning to end and my body was in serious pain after the game. I found out that no amount of declaring and claiming “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” was going to make me shoot consistent three-point shots and make me dribble the ball successfully through traffic against much younger and more agile opponents.
I have heard it said, “I can do all things through a Scripture passage taken out of context.” And my experience clearly proved the number 1 rule in Bible interpretation: “context is king.” After a few minutes of playing, I made one shot and my team lost by 1 point. My wife gave a positive spin on my experience: “you won because you finally did a full body workout!” I’ll take those words of encouragement any time.
As I lay in bed (and in pain!) to reflect on my experience and cleanse my hermeneutical palate from almost misappropriating Philippians 4:13, I see how we “can do all things through Christ,” means having joy in Him as we surrender our anxieties to Him in prayer (Phil 4:6), embracing His peace because of His presence (Phil 4:7–9), and finding contentment in whatever circumstances we are in because we know He is our source of strength (Phil 4:10–13). Looking at the context, it is not difficult to notice that joy and peace play a huge role in embracing the promise of Philippians 4:13. We find that true joy and peace are matters not of condition but of location.
The command to “rejoice IN the Lord always” (Phil 4:4a) tells us that we can rejoice in His presence with us and because of who we are in Him. Take the Apostle Paul, for example. He was in prison when he was writing the letter to the Philippians; yet he largely spoke about joy and rejoicing in the Lord. He accepted his condition (in prison) and he embraced where he could find joy—in the Lord. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are less than ideal. It is comforting to know that the Lord sees where we are, that He hears our desperate pleas, and that our circumstances do not change who we are in Him.
The command to “rejoice IN the Lord always” (Phil 4:4a) tells us that we can rejoice in His presence with us and because of who we are in Him. Take the Apostle Paul, for example. He was in prison when he was writing the letter to the Philippians; yet he largely spoke about joy and rejoicing in the Lord. He accepted his condition (in prison) and he embraced where he could find joy—in the Lord. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are less than ideal. It is comforting to know that the Lord sees where we are, that He hears our desperate pleas, and that our circumstances do not change who we are in Him.
Peace is also a matter of location—in Christ. Notice that the kind of peace God brings will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). Anxieties wear us down when our minds go down the rabbit hole of “what ifs and what if nots.” The Lord knows that we can be anxious of an uncertain future. And so, His peace will protect our minds in Christ. Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus our thinking not on our anxieties but on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. As we shift our attention to those things and live in obedience to the Lord, there is the promise that “the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9). Notice how Phil 4:7–9 begins with “the peace of God” and ends with “the God of peace.” Yes, you will have peace; but wait there’s more! When our minds focus on the things the Lord wants us to focus on, he does not only promise peace but also His very presence—the God who owns the peace that passes all understanding will be with us.
Indeed, we can rejoice in the Lord and find peace in Him because we know He gives us strength to do what He wants us to do even in and through adverse circumstances.
I lay in bed that night with joy and peace because I know I can do all things—even face the next day with its own challenges and pains—through Christ who gives me strength (and knowing that I had a full body workout… finally!).
Joy and Peace in Christ, Rev. Nimrod Tica IGSL Executive Director
Indeed, we can rejoice in the Lord and find peace in Him because we know He gives us strength to do what He wants us to do even in and through adverse circumstances.
I lay in bed that night with joy and peace because I know I can do all things—even face the next day with its own challenges and pains—through Christ who gives me strength (and knowing that I had a full body workout… finally!).
Joy and Peace in Christ, Rev. Nimrod Tica IGSL Executive Director
