Learned Already

ByJim Stephens

Reading:  Philippians 1-4

But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already. (Philippians 3:16 NLT)

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9 NLT)

One day I had fairly lengthy phone conversations with two young men—one in England and one in Oregon—who have been like sons in the faith to me. We were talking about the changes, challenges, and uncertainties we are experiencing in our lives at the present time. One of them is 58, one is 60, and I am 82, yet the challenges we are facing are so similar in their effect!

As we talked and encouraged each other, it hit me that the answers to most of our current questions and the solutions to most of our current situations are the same as they were nearly 35 years ago when I was in my late 40’s, preparing to move from Jamaica to the UK. It’s about simple faith in God’s love, care, and ability. It’s knowing in head and heart, and confessing by faith, that he is faithful and that he has a plan that we can trust even though we cannot see it all at the present time.

Paul wrote about his uncertainty concerning his circumstances and his certainty concerning God’s care and plan: “I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.”  (Philippians 2:23 NLT) Paul didn’t know what was going to happen to him next, but he knew God is faithful.

The correct attitude is faith in the faithfulness of God. The correct response is to believe, to trust, and to speak the words that declare my faith and confidence in God and his care. The correct response is to speak words that will activate faith in my heart and encourage faith in my friends’ hearts.

We live with uncertainty concerning the circumstances, but with certainty concerning God’s faithfulness, God’s care, and God’s provision!

Prayer:

Father, I love your Word. Thanks for speaking to me so simply today to keep doing what I have learned already – to believe, to trust, and to speak my faith in words and live my faith in actions. Amen.