Tag: Morning Musings

Man in stained clothes sitting on couch watching television in cluttered, dirty room

Morning Musing: Philippians 4:7-8

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“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Jesus once said that it is not what goes into the body that corrupts it, but what comes out of it. He was talking about food because the Pharisees had been fussing at Him about what the disciples were eating and over their not doing all the proper washings before eating. His point was that they were focused on external matters of symbolic righteousness that didn’t ultimately matter very much while neglecting the much more significant matters of internal righteousness. But when He said that it is not what goes into the body that corrupts it, He wasn’t entirely correct. Let’s talk about why.

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Woman sitting cross-legged on a blanket meditating on a mountain overlooking a valley at sunrise

Morning Musing: Philippians 4:6-7

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“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Our world is awash in anxiety. It’s popular in many places to have a therapist or counselor these days which is a good thing, but the very fact that so many feel like they need that help is an indication of the problem. The truth is that many more people could use it than actually get it. Yet while there is undoubtedly anxiety that is genuinely clinical, a great deal more of it is more situational in nature. It is the result of not having the worldview resources to deal with the challenges life throws our way from time to time. Christianity has such worldview resources, and one of the best of them is right here. Let’s take a look.

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Man carrying a box shaking hands with elderly woman outside her house at sunset

Morning Musing: Philippians 4:5

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“Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

If the end of the world was arriving tomorrow, how would you live today? Where would you go? What would you do? What would you say? Would you resolve relationships? offer forgiveness? Have an adventure? Or would it just sit around and do nothing because none of it would matter anyway? The nearness of Christ’s return should have all of us considering how we should respond to that. Paul offers a bit of advice here that’s part of how we should stand firm in our faith. Let’s take a look.

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Group of people standing in a circle outdoors at sunrise reading and singing from Bibles

Morning Musing: Philippians 4:4

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (CSB – Read the chapter)

It case you were living under a rock, the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic hockey teams both won the gold medal in this year’s Olympic Games. The women’s team has literally always medaled, winning gold three times. The men’s team hasn’t won gold in 46 years. Their victory was particularly impressive, including one of the greatest performances by a goalie ever. On the news of their victory, the whole country rejoiced (well, most of the country rejoiced; politics got in the way of the whole country’s rejoicing). It feels good to rejoice. That’s part of why Paul called the Philippian believers to rejoice in the Lord always. Let’s talk about why else he did.

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Group of diverse people holding hands in a prayer circle inside a church with a cross in the background

Morning Musing: Philippians 4:1-3

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“So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

A message without application is just information, and people tend to forget information. Paul’s letters are filled with information. But at the end of them, he turns to application. He switches gears to giving his readers some very practical things they can do with all of the information he has been imparting at the Spirit’s direction. For the last three chapters Paul has been encouraging the Philippian believers to stand firm in the Lord in the face of various trials and tribulations. Here, as he begins to draw things to a close, he gives them some examples of what that actually looks like. Let’s take a look.

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