Topic: Choices
John Maxwell said, “Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.”
Philippians 4:4-13 lists seven choices to be made that will guide us in living a life of faith and allow us to experience the power of the resurrection.
1. Choose Joy. Verse four says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” A dozen times in four chapters Paul writes of joy/rejoicing. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. Joy is always ours because it is based on our relationship with God, not our outward circumstances.
2. Choose to be Gentle. Verse five says, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” Chuck Swindoll made this statement about being gentle: “Let things go. Yield to others. Extend a hand of grace to brothers and sisters in Christ. Let insignificant things slide. Accept differences.”
3. Choose to Pray. Verse six says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Worry can be difficult to overcome, but one way that Paul teaches us to do that is by prayer. In the book of Philippians he mentions prayer/praying five times.
4. Choose Peace. Verse seven says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The word that Paul uses for peace is the military word for standing on guard. A peace that has its source in God is peace that guards the heart. Peace can never be found in our own efforts, but is abundant when we find it in God.
5. Choose to Think Right. Verse eight says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
We have a choice as to where our mind lives. There are a lot of dark corners and disturbing places for our minds to dwell. Darkness will steal our joy and peace. The characteristics God desires give you.
6. Choose Contentment. Verses 11-12 say, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” As Paul teaches here, contentment has nothing to do with accumulation of possessions or riches. Contentment is trusting in the provisions God has supplied.
7. Choose Jesus. Verse 13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” The person who walks with Christ and lives in Christ can cope with anything.
All of this is truly worth meditating on and using as a daily checklist for decision making.
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem