I was so looking forward to taking some vacation time after Christmas. Thanksgiving through Christmas is extremely busy for those in ministry, and I was looking forward to spending time with family and relaxing a bit; maybe even starting a project or two in my workshop. But… I got sick.
Two negative Covid tests and a doctor’s visit confirmed that I was dealing with a severe cold. It appears that I was sick with a good old fashioned kind of sickness… the rhinovirus… or otherwise known as the common cold.
And man, did this one mow me down like a charging rhino! The most frustrating symptom was a crippling cough. It made my throat raw, my patience weary and sleeping all but impossible. It would be fair to say that I spent 5 or 6 days in misery… and I am so grateful.
I suppose a year ago, I would never have felt grateful to have a severe cold… I mean, come on… those things are not fun for anyone, but after experiencing an illness like Covid this past year, that has claimed so many lives… I have often thanked God in my prayers for my cold — even as I felt like my eyeballs were going to explode from coughing. Yep, on vacation… I was grateful to have a cold… just a cold… because a severe illness had altered my perspective on being truly ill.
Perspective — that is how we view circumstances in our life, and having the proper life-perspective is essential. Paul once wrote… “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLT I think it is likely that this is the most mis-used and mis-applied verse in the entire bible.
People sometimes tend to think that Philippians 4:13 means that they can accomplish anything in life… er… at least as long as God is ok with it, that is. Football players claim it as proof they can win the big game… preachers have touted it from the pulpit as evidence that human plans are divinely appointed plans… and people have muttered it under their breath as they deal with a difficult relative, but Paul was speaking about perspective when he wrote Philippians 4:13.
Paul penned “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” after he thanked the church in Philippi for the monetary gifts they had sent him. He was grateful for those gifts, but he wanted them to understand that money would never be a reason for him to stop preaching the gospel and planting churches. He tells them in verse 12 that he has learned to live on nothing… even to the point of being content when his stomach was empty and his pockets bare. Circumstances would never keep him from what God called him to do, because he was content in just knowing Christ.
You see, Paul had the proper perspective on life. He was content in whatever circumstances he found himself, because he knew that all strength and purpose is found in Christ. If he had no money and his stomach was empty, he was content… because God had a purpose… and so he was willing to endure whatever trial he might face… knowing that Christ’s will was everything.
Listen, don’t hear me wrong… I am NOT claiming to have arrived at the spiritual maturity of Paul when I express gratitude to God for having a cold… but I am trying to have the proper perspective that God is in control… he always has a plan in my life for every situation… so each night as I tried to sleep I would pray… “Lord, help me learn what you are trying to teach me today.”
To me, Philippians 4:13 is a testimony… it’s a mindset… it is the proper life-perspective… that in every situation and circumstance in life God has a purpose… and my role is to simply ask Jesus for the strength to discover it.
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