[Membersandfriends] Saturday, September 11, 2004

Fri Sep 10 22:01:58 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, September 11, 2004

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THE SECRET
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Philippians 4:10-20 (NRSV)

I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Paul wrote, "I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need."
- Philippians 4:12 (NRSV)
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THE secret that the apostle Paul learned was to be found in Christ (Phil 3:9) and to be empowered in him (Phil 4:13).  Paul declared that he had learned to be content in every situation.  Whether he was hungry, poor or abased, or abounding in all things, Paul could always rejoice in the Lord (Phil 4:4).

When I'm confronted with a lack of material things, health, or emotional strength, my impulse is to pity myself and blame God bitterly for wronging me.  This oft-traveled path of discontent leads me away from God and into the dark regions of my sinful self.

As a Christian, I should know that I can overcome any problem with Christ.  Yet even Paul said that he had to learn the secret.  This knowledge was acquired not in a sudden flash of revelation but through a gradual process.

When I teach my first-grade math class, I often explain a problem many times and in many ways before my students "learn the secret."  Likewise, I am in the process of learning the wonderful secret of abiding in the Lord so that I can be content in all situations.

Prayer:  Lord, guard our hearts from discontent.  Teach us the secret of abiding in you.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The key to contentment is learning to abide in Christ.

-- Emily Parrino (Taipei, Taiwan)

PRAYER FOCUS: Discontented souls

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RELATED READING ...

In looking for the mysterious or the dramatic, we too often miss God in the ordinary, everyday activities of life. Believing that God speaks everywhere and always, authors Dwight and Linda Vogel in SACRAMENTAL LIVING encourage us to open ourselves to new ways of seeing God's justice-seeking and compassion-sharing ways at work in the world.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12661

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.