April 14, 2016

Philippians 4:12 NLT - "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."

Commentary:

I want to focus on the words, "...I have learned the secret of living in every situation..."  This speaks to me of accepting change in my surroundings without losing my faith in an unchanging God.  Malachi 3:6 - "For I am the Lord, I do not change" NKJV.  What does change is the situations in which we find ourselves. 

We learned early in life to expect change.  We saw this as we advanced from grade to grade in our schooling:  new teachers, harder homework, making new friends, losing some other friends.  We also faced changes in our neighborhood, either with new houses being built, old houses being torn down, or new neighbors moving in, or worse yet, having to move into a new neighborhood!  Change was part of growth and it hasn't stopped!  We see changes around us all the time.

Our Daily Verse speaks of Paul's acceptance of change without getting upset.  What was his secret?  I would suggest what I said at the beginning of this commentary:  Though our situations may change, our God doesn't!  He is always faithful; His Word is always true; His promises are always kept; our salvation is eternal; and, we have the consistent presence of our God being with us at all times, "...For He Himself said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"  Hebrews 13:5b, NKJV.

Life will change.  Circumstances will change.  People around you will change, and so will you!  Learn to accept change as Paul did, but thank God for those things you can always count on, especially in our God!