Read Philippians 4:12-13 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Discover
Philippians 4:13 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture, but its meaning can’t be fully understood without linking it to the verse before. Paul has been talking about learning contentment, and in verse 13, he says, “This is the secret – contentment is found in living a life through Jesus!”
This means we abide in Him, letting Him strengthen us to endure. The strength we need to be content in all circumstances comes from surrender to our Savior. When we stay connected to Him, not only does our contentment grow, but our character and faith grow. We no longer walk in our own power but His. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
So what does this look like? It looks like apprenticing our life after Jesus, seeing how He lived and then modeling it. It means reading His Word with the goal of knowing Him more deeply. It means praying, not to have our desires met but for His desires to become ours. It means doing all things in Him, through Him, and for Him. His presence is the only place true contentment is found.
• Abide in Jesus. What is your default when you read the Bible and pray? Do you approach them with yourself as the main focus? Or do you approach them with the desire to abide in Jesus and know Him more deeply? If helpful, write the following reminder on a notecard and use it as a bookmark in your Bible: “God, show me more of who you are.”
Respond
Use your Philippians Guidebook to reflect and respond. For a digital copy of the guidebook, visit tpcc.org/rebels-guide.
Want to go deeper? Look up the following verses to see what Jesus said about abiding in Him and what it produces. Note what you observe and then continue with your time of response.
• John 15:4-5