Philippians: A Review

COMMENTS

Well, at least for now, our study of Philippians is done.  No doubt, there are other lessons to be learned when the Lord chooses to reveal them.  At this point, though, I feel compelled to go back through this book.  My heart tells me there’s an over-arching theme that He wants me to see before He takes me somewhere else.  Reveal it to me, Lord, I pray….

 

NOTES

As I go back through the four chapters of Philippians, it becomes quite clear to me that seven elements are repeated in each chapter—seven familiar elements:   Christ-likeness, love, joy, gentleness, lack of anxiety, prayer, and thankfulness.  I thought about listing examples from every chapter, but that would make this missive extremely long.  I challenge you to take that list and search the chapters.  Most of the time, the elements are quite obvious.  Occasionally, you have to observe the tone or read the undercurrents; but they’re there.

So, what is God through Paul trying to say?  There’s a lot of “meat” in this book.  There are many examples of and instructions about how we should conduct our lives.  However, these are not rules for us to follow blindly.  They are there to lead us to our ultimate goal.

If I love,

If I rejoice,
If I am gentle,
If I am not anxious
If I pray, and
If I am thankful

THEN,

I will be Christ-like.

Not easy to accomplish, but what a glorious goal!