Jochebed's Faith

Exodus 2:1-10

When a terrible catastrophe has happened in our life, one that we have no control over, we might give in to despair.  Sometimes, during these times a believer’s faith may falter.  They might wonder if God knows, if He cares, and if He does, how can He possibly remedy this situation, as this trouble is so huge and impossible.  This is the predicament the Hebrew woman Jochebed and her husband Amram found themselves in.  However, instead of throwing her hands up, Jochebed trusted in the Lord and got to work.  Let’s look into our Scripture to see the Lord’s deliverance from the  seemingly hopeless situation that Jochebed was in.

First, let’s quickly look at the setting that this Scripture is in.  Jacob, along with his twelve sons and grandchildren had come into Egypt because of a severe famine.  His son Joseph was Pharaoh’s prime minister, and they were treated well.  However, after Joseph and his siblings died, the new Pharaoh feared that the Hebrews might gain power, and so enslaved them, even making a law that every male Hebrew baby was to be cast into the river (Exodus 1:22).  Satan was attempting to destroy God’s covenant people and thwart God’s redemptive plan.  Now Jochebed had just given birth to a baby boy.  She loved him, and did not want to have him killed (vs. 1-2).  What was she going to do?  As we read, God was going to give her a plan and deliver her child, and ultimately the whole people of Israel.  God has a purpose for every life He creates.  No child is an accident.  He forms and knows every person before birth (Psalm 139:14-16).

Instead of giving in to despair, Jochebed was determined to save her son, and trusted that God would deliver her child from death (Hebrews 11:23).  There was no way she could continue to hide her baby, as his cries would soon become loud enough for the neighbors to hear.  So she did what she could.  God had given her the ability to weave baskets, and so she used that God-given talent and made a basket and waterproofed it (vs. 3).  Jochabed trusted God rather than obeying Pharaoh’s wicked command.

Scripture calls what Jochebed placed Moses in an “ark”, the Hebrew word “teba”.  That particular word is only used in Scripture for Noah’s ark and of the basket that Moses was placed in.  Just as Noah was saved through the ark from judgment, Moses was saved through an ark from certain death.  After Jochebed placed Moses in the basket, and placed it in the river, she instructed her daughter to watch what would happen (vs. 4).  She watched carefully because faith does not exclude wise action.  Faith trusts God while responsibly using the means He provides.

Shortly after Jochebed left, Pharaoh’s daughter came to that location (vs. 5-6).  She saw the basket, and at that moment Moses began to cry.  Her heart was moved with compassion, and she decided to keep the baby.  From God’s perspective, none of these events were accidental.  The very royal family who ordered that the Hebrew boys were to die became the instrument of preserving the future deliverer.  God can move the hearts of rulers, princes, and nations to fulfill His purposes (Proverbs 21:1).  Pharaoh wanted to kill off the Hebrew boys, but instead Moses survived and was educated in his own household.  The enemy’s plan ultimately advanced God’s purposes.  What evil intends for destruction God will use for His glory.

Moses’ sister asked whether she could get a woman to nurse the baby, and she then brought Jochebed (vs. 7-10).  Moses was saved from death and Jochebed received her son back, becoming his nurse, and even getting paid for it.  Only God could arrange such circumstances.  During those next 3-4 years, she had the opportunity to teach him about the God of Abraham and the promised covenant.  Though Moses later lived in Egypt’s palace, those early years were significant in shaping him to become the man he grew to be (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).  God was preparing His servant long before He would use him.

Looking over this Scripture passage, we see that every detail of Moses’ preservation demonstrates God’s control over history.  Nothing is random.  God’s plans cannot be thwarted.  Moses was precious to God even as an infant.  This passage supports the Biblical truth that life is sacred and worthy of protection.  Amram and Jochebed trusted God in a dangerous situation, and their faith influenced the future of an entire nation.  Even when circumstances seem impossible, God is working.

While the Hebrews were suffering under bondage, God was already preserving and preparing Moses.  Likewise, when believers cannot see what God is doing, He is still faithfully accomplishing His purposes behind the scenes.  Just as God preserved Moses to deliver Israel from physical bondage, He sent Jesus Christ, the greater Deliverer, to rescue sinners from the bondage of sin and bring them into the freedom of salvation.

A Question of Taxes

Matthew 22:15-22

How many of you like to pay taxes?  If I could peek through the computer right now, I don’t think I would see too many hands raised.  No one enjoys paying income tax every year, nor the taxes on the items we buy.  However, most of us enjoy the various benefits and services of the countries we live in which those taxes provide.  Our Scripture today looks into a question that was asked to the Lord Jesus about paying taxes.  Let’s take a look and see what His answer was, what He has to say about taxes, and what a believer’s relationship to civil government should be.

The events in our Scripture took place a few days after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and shortly before His betrayal and crucifixion.  The religious leaders had been challenging Jesus all week, and they were actively looking for a way to discredit Him before the people, and if possible, before the Roman authorities.  On this day the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus.  When they came to Him they were not seeking truth (vs. 15).  Their hearts were hardened in unbelief, despite having seen His miracles and hearing His teaching, and they sought His destruction.  People often reject Christ, not because evidence is lacking, but because their hearts are unwilling to submit to Him.

These Pharisees joined up with the Herodians to entrap Jesus (vs. 16).  This was a very unusual pairing, but because they both hated Jesus, and desired to destroy Him, they came together.  The Pharisees were strongly nationalistic, were meticulous in keeping the Law, and deeply resented Roman rule.  The Herodians, on the other hand, supported the Herodian dynasty, and generally cooperated with Rome.  They came with hypocritical flattery.  While everything they said was accurate, it was insincere.  It is possible to say true things about Jesus without truly trusting Him.

They asked Jesus whether He felt it was right to pay taxes or tribute money to Caesar or not (vs. 17).  Though a normal question, it was carefully designed to trap Jesus.  If He said yes, it would alienate Him from many Jews, thinking He supported Roman oppression.  But if He answered no, the Romans could accuse Him of rebellion.  No one can outwit God, though!  Jesus saw through their deception (vs. 18).  Their outward politeness concealed an inward hatred.  We must remember, God sees beyond outward appearances to the motives of the heart (I Samuel 16:7).

Jesus requested a coin used in paying these taxes, and when they brought Him one, He asked whose face was on the coin (vs. 19-20).  The coin bore the image of Tiberius Caesar.  The fact that they possessed and used Roman currency revealed something important.  They were benefiting from the Roman system they claimed to oppose.  Jesus responded with a significant statement (vs. 21).  His answer acknowledged that civil government has legitimate authority.  Caesar had a rightful sphere of authority.  The coin bore Caesar’s image and circulated under his government, therefore certain obligations, such as taxes, should be paid.  We see similar statements in several epistles - Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13-17.  Government is an institution ordained by God for maintaining civil order.

Jesus then balanced that statement with an even greater truth, that everything ultimately belongs to God.  While the coin bears Caesar’s image, human beings bear God’s image.  Taxes may belong to Caesar, but worship belongs only to God.  Allegiance to government is limited, but allegiance to God is absolute.  Jesus was not teaching blind obedience to rulers.  When the government orders something that is explicitly contrary to what the Bible says, we are to obey God (Acts 5:29).  This passage supports both lawful citizenship and unwavering obedience to God when the two come into conflict.  These enemies of Jesus were left speechless.  Man’s wisdom cannot overcome God’s wisdom.

Our Scripture teaches that believers should generally pay taxes, respect lawful authority, and be good citizens, as long as obedience does not require disobedience to God.  The government may claim our taxes, but God claims our worship, our allegiance, our hearts, and our lives.  The coin belonged to Caesar because it carried his image.  We belong to God because we bear His image.  Every person owes God worship, obedience, and surrender.  Jesus’ perfect answer demonstrated His divine wisdom, and exposed the hypocrisy of those who opposed Him.  The Christian is to be a good citizen of his earthly nation while remaining first and foremost a citizen of God’s kingdom.

An Example of True Faith

I Thessalonians 1:1-10

Our New Testament reading this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer opens up St. Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica.  For the next several weeks, up until the beginning of Advent, the New Testament readings will be from this beloved Epistle.  Shortly before coming to Thessalonica, Paul and his missionary companion Silas had been in the city of Philippi where they had been unjustly scourged and jailed.  After being released they were told to leave that city, and they traveled west just under 100 miles to Thessalonica, about a three to four days journey on foot.  As was Paul’s custom, he spoke in the local synagogue about how Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, and they could receive salvation through His Name and shed Blood.  This angered the Jews who did not believe.  Within three weeks they started a violent riot, and Paul’s life was seriously threatened again.  Again, he and his companions fled to the nearby city of Berea, and then were forced to leave, traveling further south to Athens (Acts 17:1-15).  This letter to the brand new church in Thessalonica was written by Paul within a few months of his fleeing the city for his life, to encourage them as they also were experiencing persecution and opposition.

Paul began his letter with his usual greeting and blessing of God’s grace and peace (vs. 1).  Grace always comes first, and then peace follows.  A person cannot experience true peace with God until he first experiences God’s saving grace.  Paul also affirmed, right from the start, the deity of Christ, and also the distinct personhood of the Father and the Son.  He also stated that the Church, including these new believers in Thessalonica, are “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  They are united with Him through salvation.  The church is not merely a social organization, but a spiritual body rooted in God Himself.

As Paul continued on, he gave thanks for their good example of Christian living, highlighting three characteristics or evidences of the spiritual life they, and all Christians should have (vs. 2-3).  First was their work of faith.  True faith will show forth works.  Paul was not teaching salvation by works.  Rather, genuine faith will produce works (James 2:17).  Faith that never affects one's conduct is questionable faith.  The second was their labor of love.  The Thessalonians served Jesus not out of obligation but out of love.  Love for Him will motivate us to service and sacrifice.  The third evidence was their patience of hope.  Biblical hope is a confident expectation.  Their confidence in Jesus’ return enabled them to endure persecution and hardship.  A mature Christian will possess all three of these characteristics.

Paul knew that they were genuine believers by looking at their repentance, their faith, and their transformed lives (vs. 4-5).  These demonstrated the fruits of salvation.  When the Gospel is preached, it is more than just information.  It is God’s power to save sinners.  When they received the Gospel, accepting God’s salvation through faith, they followed the godly examples of Paul and Silas (vs. 6).  They received the Word, which brought both affliction and Spirit-producing joy.  The natural response to suffering is discouragement, but with the Holy Spirit, they had joy.

The Thessalonians became examples to other churches (vs. 7-8).  Their testimony rang throughout the region, and they became known for their faithfulness and evangelism.  A healthy church does not merely preserve truth, it proclaims truth.  Their witness extended beyond their city.

The last couple of verses of this Scripture passage give strong evidence of their conversion (vs.9-10).  Salvation involves turning toward God.  It is not merely intellectual agreement, but also a coming to God through Jesus.  Repentance involves turning from sin and false worship, abandoning any type of idol.  Salvation produces service.  Believers are not saved by works, but unto works.  The Thessalonians also lived in expectation of Christ’s return, which was a dominant theme throughout this letter.

The Thessalonian believers were excited about their faith, and told everyone they could, despite persecution.  How many believers today get extremely excited about their faith?  How often do you proclaim the saving truth of Jesus as loudly as a sports fan proclaims their allegiance to their favorite team?  Are we anxious when our favorite team loses, but indifferent about the spiritually lost?  Are we passionate about politics but quiet about the Lord?  We have the responsibility of sharing with the world who Jesus is and what He has done for us.  We should display the same reality of transformed lives and steadfast hope in the Lord Jesus as the Thessalonian Church did.

Worship and Witness

Psalm 96

If something really great happens in our life, we usually tell other people about it.  Perhaps we became engaged to be married, or found we were expecting a baby, or won the big prize in a contest, or received a great scholarship.  We like to tell others about a movie we watched and really enjoyed, or the latest good book we read, or a new restaurant we really liked.  What about the greatest thing that ever happened in our life, the biggest and best news we could ever tell someone?  Would we share that with others, or would we keep quiet about it?  If you’re a Christian, you have the best news ever, and our Scripture for today urges us to proclaim that to everyone every day.  Let’s look into Psalm 96.

The author of Psalm 96 is not specifically identified, though the events surrounding its composition seem to be when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem, as it is very similar to the song sung in I Chronicles 16:23-33.  Our psalm begins, as many psalms do, with a call to worship the Lord.  Has the Lord blessed you with some new blessings lately?  Then sing Him a new song of praise (vs. 1-2).  He is always bringing new blessings to His Blood-bought children who have put their faith in Him.  We should be proclaiming God’s praise to every nation, to all people on earth.  God is not merely the God of Israel.  He is Lord of all creation.  We have the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, and Jesus commissioned us to proclaim that to everyone.  Real worship is not just singing, but also includes proclaiming God’s salvation to others.

Even in the Old Testament it was God’s plan to include the Gentiles, as we see in verse 3.   The prophet Isaiah testified to this on numerous occasions, including in Isaiah 49:6.  Jesus continued with that order by instructing His disciples to bring His message of salvation to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).  Every believer is a witness.  God did not save us merely to enjoy salvation, but to share it.

One reason for praising the Lord is for His greatness (vs. 4).  The surrounding nations of Israel worshiped a variety of false gods and idols (vs. 5).  They worshiped Baal, the god of rain and crop fertility, and Astarte, the goddess of love and human fertility (equivalent to Aphrodite).  They also sacrificed children to Molech.  These gods could not create.  They could not speak, and certainly could not save.  Yahweh, created all things, and He alone can save us.  Today, in addition to some worshiping pagan gods, they worship money, fame, pleasure, and themselves.  Anything that replaces God in our affections becomes an idol.

Three times in verses 7-8 we are commanded to give glory to the Lord.  As believers we recognize that He is worthy of all glory, and this should be publicly acknowledged.  Worship also involves sacrifice.  Due to the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, we no longer sacrifice animals for sin.  We are told to give our lives (Romans 12:1), along with sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15).  True worship should cost us something.

Many today speak of worship while neglecting holiness (vs. 9).  True worship requires reverence, purity, and obedience.  God is not seeking entertainment from our worship services at church.  That is what so many churches today have, an entertainment service, not a worship service.  The Lord seeks worshipers whose hearts are surrendered to Him.

We are to proclaim to the world that God reigns, both now and throughout eternity (vs. 10).  The Lord reigns now in sovereign control and there is coming the day when His reign will be openly manifested throughout the earth when Jesus returns.  His kingdom will have justice and stability.  All of creation will rejoice when Jesus returns (vs. 11-13) since at that time all will be restored.  Creation suffered because of man’s sin (Romans 8:19-22), but it will share in the blessings of Christ’s reign.  His return is certain, and it will bring righteousness and truth.

As we look back at our Scripture, we see that God’s heart has always included all people.  We also see that true worship is not primarily about what pleases us, but what honors God.  Our psalm also looks ahead to the visible reign of Jesus.  He is the coming Judge.  Every person will ultimately stand before Him, so this should motivate us to holy living and telling others about salvation through Jesus Christ.

Worship and witnessing belong together.  Those who truly know the Lord’s greatness cannot help but declare His glory among the nations and proclaim His salvation from day to day.  Our psalm gives believers hope as we look forward to the day when Jesus Christ will return to judge in righteousness and reign as King.

God is in Control

Isaiah 45:1-7

Imagine that you found some writings that you knew to be at least 150 years old, and as you read these handwritten pages, you read that the person writing spoke of a future ruler who would rise up, lead the country, and do certain things, and then they gave a specific name for this person.  As you read, you saw that they specifically named the current ruler of your country!  You knew that these pages were at least 150 years old, not something current.  This leader was currently the president (or prime minister, king, etc.), and they had done what was written on the page, too.  That person had given an accurate prophecy, which would be amazing.  Such a thing did happen, as we read in our Scripture today.  The prophet was Isaiah, giving a message from God, and the person mentioned, over 150 years before he was born, was Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.  Let’s take a look at this prophecy today.

The prophet Isaiah ministered primarily to the Southern Kingdom of Judah between the years 740 - 686 BC.  Isaiah brought many different messages from the Lord to the people, including urging them back to righteousness, prophecies of the coming Messiah, and this prophecy of a coming ruler of a foreign power, naming him by name, who would subdue nations around the known world at the time, and would also allow the Jewish people out of captivity to return to their homeland.

As our Scripture begins, God did not speak in vague terms through Isaiah.  He identified this ruler by name (vs. 1).  This is one of the strongest evidences of predictive prophecy in the Scriptures.  Only an all-knowing God can accurately identify a future king by name generations before his birth.  He chose Cyrus for a specific task.  Throughout Scriptures God sometimes appointed unbelieving rulers to accomplish His purposes, such as Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16), Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:9), and Pontius Pilate (John 19:10-11).  The victories of Cyrus would not merely be military achievements.  They would be the result of God’s sovereign plans.  The Lord is still directing the affairs of nations according to His will.

God promised to remove all obstacles from Cyrus’ path as he conquered the nations of the Middle East (vs 2).  Historically, Babylon was thought to be virtually unconquerable.  Yet God prepared the way for its fall.  No obstacle can prevent God’s purposes.  What He has determined to accomplish will come to pass.

Cyrus was granted access to wealth hidden in these conquered kingdoms (vs. 3).  The purpose was not just to make him rich, but that he would know that Yahweh, the God of the people of Israel, had called him and predicted all of this.  The Lord often works through circumstances to reveal Himself.  He explained why He raised Cyrus up (vs. 4).  It was because of His covenant people.  God’s dealings with Cyrus were motivated by His faithfulness to Israel, as their return from Babylon was part of His covenant plan.  God always keeps His promises.

Yahweh stands alone as the true God, not Babylon’s gods, nor Persia’s gods, or any of today’s idols (vs. 5). God is not dependent upon man’s recognition of Him in order to work.  He remains sovereign whether men acknowledge Him or not.  God wants the entire world to know that He alone is God and He alone rules history (vs. 6).

God is in control of both prosperity and of judgment (vs.7).  He creates light and peace, and controls darkness and calamity.  There are no accidents in His universe.  While God is never the author of sin, He governs all circumstances, and uses even adversity to fulfill His righteous purposes.  God has a purpose for everything He does or permits.  He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and our lives.  Nothing happens by accident or coincidence.  He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences.  God's ways won’t always make sense to us.  Isaiah taught that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9).  He is in control no matter how off-kilter this world may seem.

Looking back over this Scripture, we see a God who knows the future, controls history, raises up rulers, keeps His promises to Israel, and who alone deserves worship.  The prophecy of Cyrus stands as a powerful testimony that Yahweh, the God of the Bible is in control and Lord over all nations and all ages.  He knows the future perfectly, and rules over all human authority.  In a world filled with uncertainty, this Scripture reminds us that God is not reacting to events.  He is directing history according to His perfect will.

A Wedding Invitation

Matthew 22:1-14

If you were invited to a special event, a celebration that would include a very sumptuous dinner with the best of foods, would you turn it down?  Most of us would not likely reject that invitation, especially if it would not cost us anything, as all expenses were already paid, including the clothes we would wear.  In our Scripture today from St. Matthew’s Gospel, we continue with looking at the parables the Lord Jesus told just days before His crucifixion.  This parable was primarily aimed at the Pharisees and religious leaders in Jerusalem, the ones who were refusing the invitation.

In this parable, we read of a king who was holding a banquet to celebrate the wedding of his son, a marriage feast.  He had sent the invitations, and when the day arrived, he sent his servants out to call those invited to the banquet.  However, those invited would not come, and many of them even beat up the servants, some they even killed.  So the king destroyed the city, and then sent other servants out to invite others from farther away, many of whom responded.  At the banquet, the king saw a guest who did not have on a wedding garment, who was then cast out.

Like all of His parables, this one had a specific spiritual meaning besides just being a curious story.  Each character represents someone - the king represents God the Father, and the son represents Jesus Christ.  Those first invited primarily represent Israel, especially the religious leaders and the nation that had received God’s promises.  The servants are the prophets that God sent to the people, from the days of Moses all the way to John the Baptist.

The invitation had been announced, and then the king sent his servants to notify the guests that everything was ready (vs. 3).  The prophets foretold Christ’s coming.  John the Baptist announced His arrival, and Jesus Himself preached the kingdom.  However, the nation largely rejected Him.  The king then sent another invitation (vs. 4-5), showing God’s patience and mercy.  The invited guests made light of it, and chose their business and personal interests over the king’s invitation.  Today we see the same with people who value their careers and pleasures over Jesus.

Other of the invited guests took some of the servants and abused them, picturing the persecution of God’s messengers (vs. 6).  This happened to many of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, the apostles, and other Christian martyrs through the ages.  When the king heard this, He responded quickly by destroying the city (vs. 7), which points prophetically to God’s judgment upon Jerusalem which was destroyed in 70 AD, along with the nation, and the people scattered throughout the world.  God is patient, but His patience is not endless.  Today, just as in the days of the Bible, rejecting God’s invitation will bring judgment.

Because those initially invited rejected their invitation, the king extended the invitation to others (vs. 8-10).  This pictures the expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles, the outcast, and to all nations. The Gospel invitation is universal.  The message goes to all.  This does not mean that all are saved.  Rather, it means that all are invited.  The Gospel is for everyone, and no sinner is beyond God’s invitation.

As the parable continues, we see a man who was not wearing a wedding garment (vs. 11-13).  The man accepted the invitation but entered improperly.  In ancient royal weddings, it was common for garments to be provided for guests, yet this guest had refused to wear his.  The wedding garment represents the righteousness that God provides (Isaiah 61:10; Philippians 3:9).  This wedding guest wanted to trust in his own works, rather than in Jesus’ provision on the Cross.  No one enters God’s presence clothed in his own righteousness.  We must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

The man had no answer when questioned, as unbelievers will have no defense before God.  He was then cast out, a picture of eternal judgment upon those who reject God’s provision of salvation.  Neither good works nor church membership is salvation.  Only the righteousness of Jesus makes one acceptable before God.  If one is to be accepted into heaven, being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ isn’t an option.  It is imperative.  You cannot enter heaven on your own terms, clothed in your own righteousness.

God sincerely invites people to come, and the Gospel invitation goes out widely, however only those who respond in genuine faith become partakers of salvation (vs. 14).  Those who are saved are chosen by God.  Those who are lost cannot blame God for rejecting His gracious invitation.

God invites all to come to His Son Jesus Christ, but only those clothed in Christ’s righteousness will enter the eternal wedding feast.  Salvation is entirely a matter of God’s grace, yet it demands a personal response.  The King freely invites guests to the feast, but those who enter must be clothed in the garment He provides.  This parable beautifully pictures the Gospel.  We cannot come to God in our own righteousness, but only in the righteousness of Jesus.  Genuine salvation is not about religion, heritage, or good works, but about receiving Jesus by faith.

Content in All Circumstances

Philippians 4:10-13

Our Scripture for today, taken from the fourth chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, is a very familiar passage for many.  In fact, many Christians have memorized this portion of Scripture, particularly the last verse in the passage. However, that particular verse is often misunderstood, or taken out of context.  Let’s take a look at this passage that teaches the believer’s dependence upon the Lord Jesus, the secret of Christian contentment, and God’s sustaining grace in every circumstance, and also particularly look at the final verse, to understand what it really means.

Paul’s epistle to the Philippians was written while the apostle was imprisoned for his faith in Rome.  Unlike most prisons today, the prison system in the ancient world would provide just enough bread and water to keep the prisoner alive.  If one wanted a decent meal or a blanket to keep warm, the prisoner’s family or friends would have to send these.  While Paul was imprisoned, the Christians in Philippi sent financial help through a fellow believer.  The apostle was very grateful for their help and expressed his thanks to them (vs. 10).  However, he didn’t want them to feel bad that they hadn’t sent it earlier.  He knew they had wanted to, but didn’t have the means to until then.  Paul did not rejoice just because he received money or provisions.  His joy was centered in the Lord.  He knew that the giver behind every gift is God Himself.  His joy was rooted in Jesus, not in his circumstances.

The apostle testifies that he has learned to be content wherever he is, and in whatever circumstance he is in (vs. 11).  Notice, Paul said that he has learned.  Contentment does not come naturally, it is something that we need to learn and cultivate in our life.  Our natural response is to be happy and satisfied when things are going right and we have what we want.  When we don’t we are discouraged, depressed, resentful, and angry.  Paul learned through the years of trials that he would rest in God’s wisdom, and trust in His provisions.  He accepted God’s plan in his life, and was satisfied with His will.  Through trusting in God regardless of his circumstances, Paul learned that Christ is enough.

Throughout his ministry Paul had experienced both times of abundance and times of need (vs. 12).  He had received support from various churches throughout the years of his missionary journeys, along with seasons of blessings.  Along with that, though, Paul had also been imprisoned several times.  He had gone hungry, been beaten, and suffered shipwrecks.  However, regardless of which he was experiencing, Paul’s spiritual stability remained unchanged.  He glorified God in both situations.

Verse 13 is one that many Christians have memorized, and is one that some have misunderstood and taken out of context.  Many Christians have quoted this verse as meaning that they can win at anything, they can achieve any dream they have, or accomplish whatever they desire, all because they feel that if they have faith, Jesus will strengthen them to be able to.  However that is not Paul’s meaning here.  The context of this verse is Paul’s contentment in any circumstance. The verse is not about unlimited human achievement.  It is about unlimited divine enablement to fulfill God’s will.  Paul was saying that through Christ’s strength he could endure either abundance or poverty, that he could obey God in every circumstance he was in.

Contentment rarely appears instantly.  God teaches it through trials, losses, disappointments, and also through answered prayers.  Circumstances should not determine the level of our joy.  Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison.  His surroundings were difficult, but his spirit was victorious.  As Christians, our joy should be based on Jesus’ unchanging character, not on our changing circumstances.  God controls both abundance and adversity for His purposes.

In closing, as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus, we should remember that when health fails, Christ strengthens.  When our finances shrink, Christ strengthens.  When what we do for the Lord becomes difficult, Christ strengthens.  And when suffering comes, Christ strengthens.  The great secret Paul learned was simple: Christ is enough.