(concluded from p. 155.)
In our consideration of the earlier part of the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Philippians we have seen already that proper Christian practice flows from our knowledge of our position in Christ by the grace of God and our prospect of being "with Christ" in the glory of God. And we have noticed that we are called to Christian steadfastness, unity, helpfulness, joyfulness, and moderation.
Now let us think of
CHRISTIAN CONFIDENCE AND DEPENDENCE
These come before us in verse six:"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."
"Where anxiety begins faith ends, and where faith begins anxiety ends."
Nothing is to be allowed to overcharge our hearts, to render us anxious. The Lord is still at hand. Into His ear we may tell all our desires. To Him we may unbosom ourselves in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. "Careful for no thing, prayerful in every thing, thankful for any thing," as it has been said. Here is the Christian's safety-valve when pressure is great. He can ever turn to One who, infinite in understanding, and great in power, lifts up the meek and heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds (Ps. 147:3-6).
And we may tell Him all, keeping back nothing of all our longing and desire, while thanksgiving is mingled with our petitions as we remember all His goodness and His grace. We may freely confide in Him and fully depend upon Him. As we do this
CHRISTIAN CALMNESS
will be known. "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Such is the promise. We shall be lifted in spirit above the circumstances through which we have to track our way.
Two friends were travelling together in Switzerland. One ascended the Rigi and stayed in the hotel at the top of the mountain. The other remained below. While they were separated a violent thunderstorm broke over .the valley. The friend down below, telegraphing to the friend on the summit, said:"There's an awful storm raging down here." The reply was, "Come up here; we're above the storms."
So it is that by the way of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving the believer is lifted into "the peace of God which passeth all understanding"-that unruffled calm which can never be disturbed.
There we may sing;
"The storm may roar around me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?"
The next part of our practice to call for our attention is
CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION
It is the remark of an old writer, "The Christian's power is to be ever, only, always occupied with good." It is this to which we are called in verse eight:"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
We become, unconsciously, like that with which we are occupied. We are formed by our thoughts. As a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he."
Happy is it to be engaged with all that is of God, and with what is in accordance with His Word. The path of the Lord Jesus portrayed in the pages of the Gospels above all should engage our attention. He is the "perpetual theme for our most exalted" contemplation. Then all that is of Him in our fellow-Christians may be the subject of consideration profitably, we delighting in beholding something of Himself coming out in each one of His own, and acknowledging everything which is in them in Christ Jesus.
THE CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE
of others will help us. "Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me do; and the God of peace shall be with you." As we follow the example of those who follow Christ, and as we carry out that "form of doctrine" which we have had delivered to us in the Scriptures, so shall we have the sense of the presence of the God of peace Himself with us.
He has given to us all that pertains to life and godliness. For our pathway we have a perfect pattern in Christ, a perfect provision in the Scriptures, and a perfect power in the Holy Spirit. Walking thus we shall not only have the peace of God possessing our souls and garrisoning our hearts, "between us and all hostile surroundings," but we shall have the God of peace Himself walking with us and giving us the joy of communion with Him. The thinking of good and the doing of good is God-like.
CHRISTIAN GENEROSITY
is spoken of in verse ten. The Philippians had ministered in carnal things to the apostle, in his necessity sending once and again supply in his want. He could rejoice in this fruit abounding to their account. Our Lord Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." How perfectly did His whole course exemplify this truth. He said it in His deeds of love and mercy. He, the Son of Man, came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. He has left us here to follow His steps. "To serve and to give," such is our mission. Never can any have part in His glorious redemption work; that completed sacrifice stands gloriously, eternally alone; but in the spirit of it we may seek to give of our best in spiritual and in carnal things for the help of all about us.
We are saved, not to sit still in self-love, but to serve steadily, seeking the benefit and blessing of others, giving out of a glad heart for the succor of the needy.
CHRISTIAN CONTENT
is expressed in the words of the apostle, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." He had within him a source of satisfaction, a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Thus he was independent of that which was around. Proverbs 14:14 declares, "A good man shall be satisfied from himself." Walking in the fear of God he has art inward testimony that he pleases God and an abiding contentment in the all-sufficiency of Christ.
Wonderful-is it not?-that in this dissatisfied, unsatisfying world (where men hurry and worry, seeking rest and finding it not) one should be able to say, "Enough!"
"I have no blanks now," said a Christian who was asked to go to places of sinful pleasure where once he had sought (but never found) heart-satisfaction. Heartsease is a flower which grows only in the knowledge of, company of, and service of Christ. But there it luxuriates. God who in His rich grace has provided heaven for us hereafter, knows how to provide happiness for us here and now.
This the apostle had learned:"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 strengthened me." He was a graduate in the university of adversity. And he was a man like to ourselves. Let us not forget this.
Finally let us think of
CHRISTIAN RESOURCE
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." All that we have spoken of, all that is suitable for the believer in his earthly journeying, is possible through Christ.
He is our resource everywhere and at all times. He was enough for the saints of old, as Hebrews 11 shows so clearly. He was enough for the early Christians and for the apostle, in the midst of all their difficulties. And He is enough for us to-day. We are in danger of thinking that the difficulties of our day are greater than any known aforetime. But great as they are, and greater as they may become as we see the day approaching, Christ is always present with His own, and His power is ever adequate for every contingency.
To His disciples He could say, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore.'.'. and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." His power and His presence are .our competence. Relying on Him who fails not we may go forward without a misgiving.
Wonderful position! Wonderful prospect! Wonderful practice! "In Christ," "with Christ," "through Christ." Forever and in everything the Christian is linked up with Christ. The Christian in Christ and Christ in the Christian makes up true Christianity. May we all know more of it until we are in His presence and likeness. Inglis Fleming