Philippians 4
Stand fast in the LORDverse 1
THEREFORE – my brethren dearly beloved
and longed for my joy and my crown
so stand fast in the Lord – my dearly beloved
Conflict between Christian workersverses 2-3
I beseech Euordias – and beseech Syntyche
that they be of the same mind in the Lord
And I entreat you also – true yokefellow
help those women which labored with me in the gospel
with Clemont also – and with other my fellow laborers
whose names are in the BOOK of LIFE
Characteristics of Christian workersverses 4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always – and again I say – REJOICE
let your moderation be known unto all men – the Lord is at hand
Be careful for nothing
BUT in everything by prayer and supplication
with THANKSGIVING let your requests
be made known unto God
and the peace of God – which passes all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus
Proper Biblical thinkingverses 8-9
FINALLY – brethren – whatsoever things are true – honest
just – pure – lovely – good report
IF there be any virtue – praise – THINK on these things
Those things – which you have both
learned – received – heard – seen IN ME – DO
and the God of peace shall be with you
Proper attitude toward moneyverses 10-13
BUT I rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now at the last your care of me has flourished again
wherein ye were also careful
BUT you lacked opportunity
NOT that I speak in respect of want – FOR I have learned
in whatsoever state I am – THEREWITH to be CONTENT
I know both how to be abased – and I know how to abound
everywhere and in all things I am instructed both
to be full and to be hungry
both to abound and to suffer need
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
Thankfulness toward those who support ministryverses 14-19
NOTWITHSTANDING you have well done
that you did communicate with my affliction
NOW you Philippians know also
that in the beginning of the gospel
when I departed from Macedonia
NO church communicated with me as concerning
giving and receiving BUT you only
FOR even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity
not because I desire a gift
but I desire fruit that may abound to your account
BUT I have all – and abound – I am full
having received of Epaphroditus the things which were
sent from you an odor of a sweet smell
a sacrifice acceptable – well-pleasing to God
BUT my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory
by Christ Jesus
Benedictionverse 20
NOW to God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. AMEN
Greetings to allverses 21-23
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus
the brethren which are with me greet you
All the saints salute you – chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (3309 “be careful” [merimnao] means 1 to be anxious. 1a to be troubled with cares. 2 to care for, look out for (a thing). 2a to seek to promote one’s interests. 2b caring or providing for. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.)
DEVOTION: Paul is concerned with how these Christians act as a church. He has already argued for their unity and humility in chapter 2, and talked about focusing their eyes on Christ in chapter 3. Now he repeats these themes and adds to them the admonition to rejoice in chapter 4. How does one rejoice when there is opposition from outside the church and disunity inside the church?
Those in leadership in this infant church had many concerns. It would have been easy for them to become anxious about the things that these Christians faced. Paul says that the antidote for anxiety is prayer, and bringing up all their concerns before God.
We have known Christian believers who have made worrying into a science and an art form. These are the people who look like they have been sucking on lemons and develop stomach ulcers. They persist in worrying about how things will turn out, whether or not there is any real probability that the bad outcomes will occur. How much better it would be to trust in God’s providence and sovereignty and leave the results to Him!
Paul consistently urges believers to be in prayer as a constant communication form with God. If we are walking with God moment by moment, then we will want to talk with Him about everything in our lives.
CHALLENGE: We should not let a concern pass our minds but that we stop and take time to pray about it. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
: 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (3129 “learned” [manthano] means be appraised, to increase one’s knowledge, to hear, be informed, be taught, understand, be instructed, come to realize, discover, or comprehend)
DEVOTION: Paul had been at the church at the beginning. He had instructed them in the basics of the faith. He had given them even enough information or instruction to have them become mature believers.
He could make this statement because he had spent some time with them and they could observe his lifestyle in handling all types of situations. He sent letters to them. He sent his fellow workers to them. He appointed leadership in their church.
So when he sent this letter he could make this statement. He wanted them to use him as an example of what a genuine believer would look like. He encouraged them to find people in the church who manifested the same tracts as he did and follow their leadership.
There are many false teachers who live one way and preach another. It is not always easy to be a leader and have people watch their every move but that comes with the responsibility. Many leaders fail in this department. They need to work more in this department. Not everyone who struggles with their teaching and practice is a false prophet or leader but Paul could say to this church that he was the type of example they could follow.
Pray for your leaders that they can practice each day what the LORD would have them do for HIS glory. If they let you down ask the LORD to help you understand and give them another chance to gain your respect.
If you are one who looks for faults in leaders you will find them all the time. Paul had many people in his churches and in the Christian community putting him down on a regular basis. If you are a leader this also comes with the ministry.
Ultimately leaders answer to the LORD for his lifestyle. Ultimately each member of the church answers to the LORD for their treatment of their leaders.
Grace is needed by both the leaders and the people in the church toward each other. No one is perfect. Christ was the only perfect human being.
CHALLENGE: Give your leaders a break once in a while!! Most are doing the best they can at the time. They are maturing too!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (842 “content” [autarkes] means sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support, independent of external circumstances, contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the slenderest)
DEVOTION: Paul starts this chapter with a compliment to the church. However, there were two saints fighting with each other and that had to be dealt with by the other saints.
He wants all of them to rejoice. He wants them to be prayerful at all times. He wants them to think Biblically. He is concerned that they get the message of living a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
Finally, Paul is thanking the church in Philippi for their support of his ministry. They had sent him gifts on a couple of occasions at this point in time. They had just sent a gift through Epaphroditus. They were there to support him with money and prayers.
He also wanted to get across to them that he has learned to be satisfied with being hungry or being full. He knew how to be abased and how to abound. He had to learn to know what it meant to depend on God for his daily needs. He received strength to face each day with the strength that only Christ could give him.
He enjoyed the care that this church and others gave him throughout his ministry but he knew that the bottom line was that God was the one who was using people to supply his needs. That is true today.
We should realize that God is the one who gives us the ability to earn money. God is the one who instructs us how to use our money. God is the one who gives us the ability to be satisfied with what HE gives us. Paul had learned this lesson.
We are continuing to learn this lesson too on a regular basis. Our desire in this ministry is for fruit for the LORD. Paul’s desire for his ministry was fruit for the LORD. The desire of each believer should be that their gifts and talents would be used to bring glory to God.
Everyone in ministry has to realize that their paycheck comes from the LORD. It doesn’t come from the church or the mission but from the LORD. HE is the one all have to look to regarding their financial needs. Remember if someone in ministry takes more than they need – they will answer to the LORD. Also those who pay those in ministry too little will have to answer to the LORD for what they are doing.
Are we independent of external circumstances in our lives? Do we worry about our daily needs? We need to be more like Paul!!!
CHALLENGE: Remind yourself that the LORD is there to care for all of our needs.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (1743 “strengthens” [endunamoo] means become strong, to render capable or able for some task, increase in strength, to make someone able, to give capability to, to enable, or to empower)
DEVOTION: One of the characteristics we need in life is strength. We face many obstacles in our world. Each day brings a new challenge.
My grandchildren will be traveling from Alaska to Chicago on a plane. I will meet them at the airport and drive them to New York. When I told them that it was ten hours from Chicago to Batavia they groaned. It was a challenge to their strength to be in transportation for over seventeen hours between the plane ride and a ride with grandpa.
There are challenges to our Christian life every day. There are people who don’t love the LORD everywhere we go. Children go to school and some of the teachers don’t honor the LORD with their language and attitude. They even sometimes put down those who are believers in Jesus Christ. Some even teach that children don’t need to honor their parents by obeying them when they give them Biblical lessons.
In the adult world we have many people we meet that seem to put down believers that they work with on the job. Too often there are believers who don’t act right in the work place. We are to be good workers in whatever position God has given us to witness to the world around us. It takes strength to face each day on the job and in the home.
Paul wants us to know that our strength for each day comes from the LORD who is the ruler of heaven and earth.
CHALLENGE: HE has more strength than we will ever need. It is available to old and young alike who trust in HIM.
: 15 Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. (1577 “church” [ekklesia] means congregation, assembly, gathering, an assembly of Christians or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, or a congregation of Christians)
DEVOTION: Missionaries have been around since the beginning of the church. When they are on the mission field they can do some work while they are witnessing to those the LORD has called them to teach the truths of the Word of God.
Paul was a tentmaker so he could earn money doing that wherever the LORD sent him.
However, there are times when Paul needed to work more with the church than with his tent making. There were times that he was in jail and couldn’t make tents. It was at those times that he needed the churches that were started under his ministry to come alongside and give him some financial support. Some churches did and some churched didn’t.
The Philippi church did send him support when he needed it. He didn’t seem to send prayer letters with envelops to the churches for support. He didn’t have email to let people know that he was short of funds. He prayed and the LORD convicted churches and people to come alongside to support him.
He was content with whatever the LORD provided. He said there we times when he had little and times when he had a lot. There were times when he had just enough. Remember I have said before that if a pastor/missionary/evangelist/ Christian worker ever asks for more than they need they will have to answer to the LORD. Also if a church or individual knows of a need and doesn’t give when the LORD tells them they should through the ministry of the Holy Spirit they will have to answer to the LORD for quenching HIM.
Sometimes it is just that one church or one person that can encourage through their giving a worker to keep trusting the LORD enough to continue their ministry for the LORD. CHALLENGE: There are times when no support comes that can discourage those who are trying to serve the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Moderationverse 5
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Church at Philippi supported Paulverses 10-18
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Rejoiceverse 4
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayerverse 6
Supplicationverse 6
Prayer with thanksgivingverse 6
Requestsverse 6
Prayer for God to supply for churchverse 19
Benedictionverse 20
Prayer for graceverse 23
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sent to Paulverse 18
Odor of a sweet smellverse 18
Sacrifice acceptableverse 18
Well pleasing to Godverse 18
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospelverses 3, 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 6, 7, 9, 18-20
Peace of Godverse 7
Passes all understandingverse 7
God of peaceverse 9
Well pleasing to Godverse 18
God supplies all need according to HIS richesverse 19
God and our Fatherverse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverses 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 23
Lord is at handverse 5
Christ verses 7, 13, 19, 21, 23
Jesus verses 7, 19, 21, 23
Christ Jesus verses 7, 19, 21
Rejoice in the Lordverse 10
Lord Jesus Christverse 23
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Macedoniaverse 15
Thessalonicaverse 16
Caesar’s householdverse 22
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Stand fastverse 1
Yokefellowverse 2
Same mindverse 2
Fellow laborerverse 3
Rejoice alwaysverses 4, 10
Moderationverse 5
Prayer and supplication with thanksgivingverse 6
Requestsverse 6
Peaceverses 7, 9
Keep hearts and mind at peaceverse 7
Trueverse 8
Honestverse 8
Justverse 8
Pureverse 8
Lovelyverse 8
Good reportverse 8
Virtueverse 8
Praiseverse 8
Think on those thingsverse 8
Learnedverses 9, 11
Received of Paulverse 9
Heard from Paulverse 9
Cause actionverse 9
Rejoice in the LORDverse 10
Care verse 10
Respect of wantverse 11
Contentverse 11
Abasedverse 12
Aboundverse 12
Suffer needverse 12
Strengthened through Christverse 13
Afflictionverse 14
Necessityverse 16
Giftverse 17
Fruitverse 17
Sacrificeverse 18
Salute each belieververse 21
Saintverses 21, 22
Graceverse 23
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverses 1, 8, 21
Paul’s joy and crownverse 1
Dearly belovedverse 1
Euodiasverse 2
Syntycheverse 2
Women who labored in the gospelverse 3
Clementverse 3
Fellowlabourersverse 3
Care for Paul (missionary)verse 10
Paul is instructedverse 12
Communicate with afflictedverse 14
Philippiansverse 15
Church concerning giving and receivingverse 15
Epaphroditusverse 18
Saintsverse 21
Last Things (Future Events)
Book of Lifeverse 3
Gloryverses 19, 20
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QUOTES regarding passage
12 Paul understood what it was to be in want as well as “to have plenty.” The latter may refer to his earlier days as a rising figure in Judaism (Gal 1:14) or to the possibility that he had received a sum of money more recently. On the other hand, the expression may be merely relative. It may be that Paul considered the times he was not suffering privation to be times of plenty (e.g., Acts 9:19, 28; 16:15, 33, 34; 18:3; 21:8). He had learned the secret of trusting God “in every [particular] situation” (en panti) and in all situations as a whole (en pasin). (Kent, H. A., Jr. (1981). Philippians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 154). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
After thanking the Philippian saints for their gift in 4:10, Paul, in view of the slanders to the effect that he was making the gospel a means of his livelihood, informs them in 4:11 that he has come to learn, in the circumstances in which he is placed, to be independent of these and self-sufficient. That being the case, he certainly is not bending any efforts at making money in gospel preaching, attempting to meet the requirements of a certain standard of life. In 4:12, he tells them that he knows how to suffer hunger and how to enjoy affluence. The words “to be abased” are the translation of the Greek word which is rendered “humbled” in 2:8, and “vile” in 3:21, and means “to make low, to humble, to humiliate.” The expression refers to Paul’s ability to keep himself low as respects the needs of the daily life. Paul thus assured the saints that he knew how to live on a very small income. The words “to abound” are the rendering of a Greek word which means “to overflow.” Thus, Paul knew what it was to live on a little, and also to have more than he could use. The words “I am instructed” are from a technical word in the initiatory rites of the pagan mystery religions, literally, “I have been initiated,” or, “I have learned the secret.” The word is used in the New Testament of something which, while it may be obscure in nature or kept hidden in the past, is now revealed. The words “to be full” are from a very strong word in the original. It was used of the feeding of animals. It means in this connection, “to be filled,” and so “to fatten like an animal.” It means “to be satiated.” (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Php 4:12). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.)
I know how (οἰδα [oida]). Followed by the infinitive οἰδα [oida] has this sense. So here twice, with ταπεινουσθαι [tapeinousthai], to be humbled, from ταπεινος [tapeinos], and with περισσευειν [perisseuein], to overflow. Have I learned the secret (μεμυημαι [memuēmai]). Perfect passive indicative of μυεω [mueō], old and common word from μυω [muō], to close (Latin mutus), and so to initiate with secret rites, here only in N. T. The common word μυστηριον [mustērion] (mystery) is from μυστης [mustēs] (one initiated) and this from μυεω [mueō], to initiate, to instruct in secrets. Paul draws this metaphor from the initiatory rites of the pagan mystery-religions. To be filled (χορταζεσθαι [chortazesthai]). Old verb from χορτος [chortos] (grass, hay) and so to fatten like an animal. To be hungry (πεινᾳν [peināin]). Old verb from πεινα [peina] (hunger) and kin to πενης [penēs], poor man who has to work for his living (πενομαι [penomai]). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Php 4:12). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
Paul did not beg God’s people to help him in his work. He just placed the need before them and trusted God to meet it. Too, he had learned the lesson of contentment. Changing circumstances did not affect the inner contentment he enjoyed. The word content (autarkēs) means “self-sufficient.” The Stoics used this word (which occurs only here in the NT) to mean human self-reliance and fortitude, a calm acceptance of life’s pressures. But Paul used it to refer to a divinely bestowed sufficiency, whatever the circumstances.
At times Paul experienced definite financial and material needs, and at other times he had an abundance (v. 12). He learned how to cope with both need and plenty. The words I have learned the secret translate memyēmai (from myeō), which occurs only here in the New Testament. In the mystery religions it was a technical term meaning “to initiate (into the mysteries).” Paul used it here to suggest a kind of “initiation” (by his experiences) into being content when either well fed or hungry, and either in plenty or in want.
Paul said he could do everything—including handling poverty and living in abundance—through Him who gave him strength. This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ. (Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 664–665). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 12. I know both how to be abased, &c.] Or humbled; to be treated with indignity and contempt, to be trampled upon by man, to suffer hardships and distress, to be in a very mean and low condition, to work with his own hands, and minister to his own and the necessities of others in that way; yea, to be in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, and have no certain dwelling-place; and he knew how to behave under all this; not to be depressed and cast down, or to fret, repine, and murmur: and I know how to abound; or to excel; to be in the esteem of men, and to have an affluence of the things of this world, and how to behave in the midst of plenty; so as not to be lifted up, to be proud and haughty, and injurious to fellow-creatures; so as not to abuse the good things of life; and so as to use them to the honour of God, the interest of religion, and the good of fellow-creatures, and fellow-Christians: everywhere; whether among Jews or Gentiles, at Jerusalem or at Rome, or at whatsoever place; or as the Arabic version renders it, every time; always, in every season, whether of adversity or prosperity: and in all things; in all circumstances of life: I am instructed; or initiated, as he was by the Gospel; and, ever since he embraced it, was taught this lesson of contentment, and inured to the exercise of it, and was trained up and instructed how to behave himself in the different changes and vicissitudes he came into: both to be full, and to be hungry; to know what it was to have plenty and want, to have a full meal and to want one, and be almost starved and famished, and how to conduct under such different circumstances: both to abound and to suffer need; which the apostle repeats for confirmation-sake; and the whole of what he here says is an explanation of the lesson of contentment he had learned; and the knowledge he speaks of was not speculative but experimental, and lay not merely in theory, but in practice; and now lest he should be thought guilty of arrogance, and to ascribe too much to himself, he in the following verse attributes all to the power and grace of Christ. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 160). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Converts are Paul’s joy and crown verse 1
Fighting between servants needs to be settled verse 2- 3
Rejoice because the LORD is coming verse 4- 5
Peace vs. worry verse 6- 7
Proper thought life results in good practical Christianity verse 8- 9
Contentment in the strength of the LORD verse 10- 14
Financial support praised verse 15- 17
Praise for their financial support verse 18- 19
Give all glory to God verse 20
Greetings to each other important verse 21- 22
Grace from the LORD important verse 23
LOVED BY THE FATHER AND THE SON
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.
John 17:6
Consider the place we occupy in the interest and love of the Father and the Son. I confess that I am almost overwhelmed when I think of this. I so often spend my time, as I am sure many of you do, wondering why it is that I do not experience more of the love of God; why God does not, as it were, love me more and do things for me. What a terrible thing that is! The trouble is that I do not realize His love for me—that is my difficulty. People often say, “I feel my love for God is so small.” Quite right, I say the same thing myself:
Lord, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint. William Cowper
That is true, but the best cure is not to try to do things within yourself and work up some love from the depths of your being.The way to love God is to begin to know God’s love to you, and this doctrine is the high road to that love. Before time, before the creation of the world, He set His eye upon you, He set His affection upon you; you were marked, you were already put among His people.And all that has been done, all the person and the work of Christ, all this manifestation of His ineffable love, was done because of God’s love to you. Therefore, realize His interest in you. The God who has loved you to the extent of sending His only begotten Son to endure and to suffer all that for you loves you with a love that you will never understand, a love that passes knowledge. If we but knew God’s love to us, it would revolutionize our lives.
A Thought to Ponder: The way to love God is to begin to know God’s love to you.
(From Safe in the World, pp. 41-42, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus teaches His followers concerning prayer and personal treasures.
INSIGHT
We cannot fool God. It is impossible to put something over on Someone who is omniscient. We can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. But not God. Jesus says, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them”(Matthew 6:1).
It is easy for us to fall into the trap of living our Christian lives for the sake of other Christians. We should be living it for the sake of our relationship with the Lord. We may find ourselves going to church, singing the songs, and going through the motions but spending no time cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord. Such a relationship does not come easily. It requires commitment and time.
But we must not fool ourselves, either. The Lord does not want merely our church attendance or other external actions. He wants us! (Quiet Walk)
Appreciating God’s Creation
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.” (Genesis 2:8-9)
Everything in the garden of Eden was prepared for man’s enjoyment. In the time between creation and the curse, Adam and Eve no doubt fully enjoyed the vegetation (Genesis 2:5, 9, 15-16), the animals (vv. 19-20), the atmosphere and the weather (vv. 5-6), the rivers and the raw materials (vv. 10-14), each other (vv. 18, 21-25), and fellowship with God (3:8). But soon they rebelled and were driven from the beautiful garden (3:24), and ever since, mankind’s ability to enjoy creation has been shackled somewhat, for creation was distorted by sin, and the eyes of each one of us have become dull. The second verse of the well-loved hymn “I Am His, and He Is Mine” describes a partial reopening of the eyes of a believer upon salvation, as a love gift from our Lord.
Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in ev’ry hue Christless eyes have never seen!
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, Flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His and He is mine.
In His abundant love for His children, our Lord promises to supply all our needs once again. “Why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29). Creation’s beauty waits to thrill us and instruct us. Our loving Father wills it so. But creation will be fully restored soon, and “the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35:1-2). He beckons us to join Him in His kingdom. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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