For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:19   And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

If my memory serves me right, this is the first bible verse I ever memorized as a Christian. Of course John 3:16 was burned in my mind as I was taken to Sunday School for a year or so as a youngster, but it never connected.

Philippians 4:19 was precious to my wife and I as a young couple, for we spent years struggling to make ends meet. After a couple of years as newlyweds, we had the crazy idea of living in a different land without any known support for two years. And then move to a church hundreds of miles away to help the Pastor as he was planting a new work. (Little did we know that he was to run off after we arrived, and the church shrunk to one family and an elderly lady!)

Nevertheless, this short verse was referred to in our prayers often, but I would like to admit we only referred to this verse and ignored the context.

The Philippians sacrificed for Paul. They gave till it hurt, and then gave some more. The sacrifice given was a pleasing aroma unto God, and out of this context, Paul gave this promise.

Am I saying we were wrong in depending on the grace of God for his supply. Absolutely not, for He is gracious to all. But the context of this verse is also important to remember when the Lord calls on us to give till it hurts for those we love.

He is able to provide, in ways that is astounding. If I had a year, and three keyboards, (for I would definitely wear out two of them ), I would write some of the miraculous ways God has provided.

But my intent with this post is to encourage you to be a Philippian for the sake of love and not recompence, or the miraculous, to love someone and to sacrifice for them, even to their abundance, simply to please God (and not to congratulate yourself!)

Be a Philippian!

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