Just as a child is born and nourished through love and in love, so are we grow because of His love. It is only by being loved that a baby can grow into a strong, happy child, and it is only by being loved by God that we can be His children with strength and joy in Him.
The way we grow is to grow in love. We love God because He first loved us. It is when we are aware of God’s deep unchanging, unchangeable love for us that our head s bow in thankfulness and love to Him. A feeling of peace comes into our hearts. I can remember a day when the steady beams of the sun, shining in long rays through the clouds low in the sky and sky and over the dim hills, made me remember God’s steady love. It is when this peace comes into our hearts that love wells up within us and we long to give love to others. Gradually we are learning that all experiences show us God’s love. He wants us to give thanks for everything, praying that it will draw us nearer to Him.
It was this deep peace and out flowing love which filled Paul when he wrote his letters. Could you turn to Philippians 4. 1, using the Revised Version: “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” That is how we should love our brethren and sisters. In Philippians 1. 3-11, Paul tells how he prays for them: “I have you in my heart … I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus .. . I pray that your love may abound yet more and more.” This earnest praying for each other should play a big part in our love.
After his beautiful opening to chapter 4, Paul writes, “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have laboured side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life”. It seems that there were two of the sisters who could not see each other’s point of view. Sisters worked with Paul in the gospel, yet here were two who found it very hard to agree. It is hard to sacrifice our own way of doing things when another sister wants things done differently. But when Euodia, Syntyche and ourselves look at the strong love of Paul, who was willing to spend and be spent for his brethren and Christ, who lay down his life for his friends, we must all feel only love for our sisters. I am sure Euodia and Syntyche would strive to be of one mind after that.
Then Paul tells his beloved brethren to “rejoice in the Lord always”: and, “again I say, rejoice”. What words could show us more plainly that there is joy in belonging to Jesus Christ! Paul suffered tremendous physical hardship, and he says that more than all that was the weight that pressed upon him daily—”the care of all the churches “. He suffered for all the sin and all the trials of his converts. Yet he rejoiced in the Lord.
This rejoicing was not noisy or showy. The very next sentence is, “Let your forbearance be known unto all men”. It must be a quiet inner joy which makes our hearts sing. “The Lord is at hand.” How wonderful! Jesus Christ is sharing our thoughts now and is about to actually come down to the earth. Our rejoicing is not on the surface. Often it will break through into smiles, but it comes from peace at heart. We know God’s will with the earth is coming to pass just as He has always planned it. We know he loves us and cares for our needs. “In nothing be anxious”, Paul says. Ask God for your needs and thank Him for His blessings. He careth for you. Then truly “the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
Think of Jesus! Remember when the disciples loosed the colt! (Luke 19. 35-40) “And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! And some of the pharisees in the multitude said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Paul, with no pride, could then say, ‘What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.”
Are our lives such that we could say to all who know us, “Do all that I do and say, and the God of peace shall be with you”? While Paul is remembering how he gave them the gospel, there springs to his mind the thought that these Philippian brethren return his love for them. They had sent gifts to help him. He rejoices in their love.
Paul says that what mattered most to him, verse 14, was how they had “fellowship with his affliction”—not so much the material gift. He writes in verses 11 to 13, “Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know tow to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want”. What experience went behind those words! He knew how to be abased, and in want and hungry, and he knew also how to be filled and abound. Could we let our abundance slip away, if need be, just as easily as Paul could? The secret lies in the inner peace and joy of God’s love. When the hard task comes, may we be able to say,”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
When the Philippians gave to Paul, he had such faith that he could say quite certainly to them, “My God shall supply every need of yours, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. And in case his dear brethren, whom he was thanking so lovingly, should let their love be spoiled by pride, he says, “Now unto our Lord and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen”. Finally Paul sends his love to them all and gives them the love of the Roman brethren: “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”
And last of all he prays for them: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” These words sum up the secret of Paul’s life, and they express his final prayer for the Philippians. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is the mercy and special love which Jesus has for His own. It is by this merciful love that we are saved. This grace which was with Paul’s spirit made him content, whatever state he was in.
Assurance of Christ’s loving grace gave him peace at heart. And from a heart where Christ’s grace dwells flows fervent love to all around. I will sum up my words as Paul summed up his: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One