Peters Progress

I love this time of year. Nothing beats the winter sun pouring onto my veranda. Our aloes are budding and will flower shortly. Amethyst sunbirds are drinking nectar from a tree aloe in flower near our bedroom window. There is beauty in every season.

If I apply that to my life, can I say I find beauty in every season? Am I content in all circumstances?

We’re studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians in my home group. Gosh, there are challenges at every twist of his musings about Jesus and the church. Paul starts the letter writing about his utmost confidence in a God, who not only begins a good work in the church but will bring it to completion. God is there for the long haul. Not just for the fresh new callings and newly planted churches but the restoration of callings that have faded or burnt-out and churches whose light has somewhat dimmed. That’s encouraging news, whatever church we find ourselves in.

Encouragement becomes a hard-core challenge from there-on in (check it out yourself in scripture). Paul delights that he is in prison because now his jailers have had a chance to hear the gospel. He seems unperturbed to hear of rivalry and envy between churches so long as Christ is preached.

Would I have the same response if my personal circumstances went pear-shaped and I landed up in prison like Paul? How do I feel when my church is put down or there is rivalry among local churches? Would I be as gracious as Paul? Ouch!

When Paul wraps up his letter he shares a secret. His now not-so-secret secret is that he has learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… And this is what he whispers to us across the ages – “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” This doesn’t make him a door-mat and passive in life. He’s just come to see God being present in every season of his life. Good times, bad times. Full times, empty times. All times, God times. Emmanuel – God is with us.