Philippians 4:8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. The Message (MSG)
Yesterday, I mentioned that I think of Philippians 4:7 as my son Jeff's "life verse" because he has the "peace that passes understanding". Through the years I have come to take hold of Romans 8:28 which tells me "all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose."
Reading today's verses in The Message brings these together for me. Twice in the passage (v.6-9) it makes the reference, similar to Romans 8:28 that "everything working together". For "everything to work together" requires a God who is in control. It points to a word that is not often used today, "providence".
All of the verses above, both in Philippians 4 and Romans 8 were on my mind yesterday after posting the devotional. Last night I was reading R.C. Sproul's book "Everyone's a Theologian" where he pointed out that "the Latin word provideo, from which we get our word providence, means 'to see beforehand, a prior seeing, a foresight.' ..... Even though the word providence means the same thing etymologically as the word foreknowledge, the concept covers significantly more ground than the idea of foreknowledge. In fact, the closest thing to this Latin word in our language is provision." You might say that He not only has foresight but also sees to it that it will occur, and what I'm pointing to will occur is our faith, our hope, our salvation, he will see us through.
Seeing His providence in the little things like coming across that statement after reading and considering these verses gives me more hope, more encouragement, more faith in His providence with the big things, the difficult and challenging things in our lives. May we look for and may we look back and see His "most excellent harmonies" in our lives. May it also change our focus to the best, the beautiful and the things to praise in our lives.
Philippians 4:6-9
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there isany virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
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