We made it through Thanksgiving and now Christmas is coming up. This year many find it hard to be thankful. It has been a year of ups and downs. But we still have much to for which to be thankful.
Part of being thankful is being content with what we have. We must appreciate the blessing we have. It has been said that if you cannot be content with what you have, then you won’t be content if what you had was doubled.
The apostle Paul serves as our example. He says in Philippians 4:11-14 that he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances. He continues by stating that in his life experience he had known plenty and also what it was to be in need.
It is thought that he wrote these words from his Roman imprisonment. He said in chapter 1 that what had happened to him served to advance the gospel of Christ. He had been able to teach God’s word courageously and fearlessly. So he goes on the say in verse 21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
When we look at the hardships and difficulties and obstacles in our lives, do we see them as opportunities for God to advance the Gospel through us and our testimony? It is tough. Because typically each of us, in our human nature, don’t like to think that this could possibly be a part of God’s plan. We don’t like to accept that God could be using what we’re going through. That’s not where we like to focus. No. We want relief. We want comfort. We want life to be convenient. And it’s not always.
What does that mean? It means following Christ and bringing him glory. It means your main purpose in life is living for Christ. And to die….
How could Paul do that? How could he endure all the hardships, the persecution, the dangers? He could because he “could do all things through Christ who gave him strength.”
It doesn’t make what you’re going through or what you face go away. But it can give you hope, peace, assurance that it will be okay. Christ is there to give you strength. So we can with Paul say “Rejoice in Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” And next he says that the Lord is near.
Think about that! The Lord is near. You are not alone.
