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jn_en_2009_03_20

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C-Text - Christian Blog.

[This Blog is published by jesusnetwork.eu]

Friday, March 20, 2009. We have been reading the letter of Paul to the Philippians recently in our bible study group. Paul is writing here about joy, about endurance and about giving. He says, that “I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me strength”. Often, this verse is cited without its context, and people search for power and strength, for some kind of victory. But the victory of Paul here is of a different kind. Paul is not strong - he is weak and in trouble. Read the sentence again with this background, imaging Paul in big trouble, innocent in prison, hungry and exhausted: “I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me strength”.

We should not be surprised when we find a lot of trouble on our way. All the apostles had trouble, Jesus had trouble, the church had trouble and since then there have been wars and fights ever since in human societies. Trouble has been there, though it has not been constant. There have always been times of peace, of reconciliation. There has been a clear development of mankind, though man himself did not change much. In all trouble the bible has a special promise to the believer (Psalm 23):

“The Lord is my shepard, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness, for his names' sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I willl fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” [R.P., Reading, UK]

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