Philippians 4:1-9.  While yesterday’s reading focused on truth today’s reading focuses back on the second problem that seems to have been happening in the Philipppian church, sticking together.  Chapter four starts out kind of the same as chapter three did, Paul is calling the people in the group his brothers.  But in chapter three he encouraged them to have joy in God now he is telling them that they are the source of his joy and that he really really really wants to come visit them.  He also calls them his crown.  In 1 Thessalonians 2:19 Paul uses similar language when describing the church in that city.  In those verses he says that the Thessalonian believers will be their “crown of bosting” when Jesus returns (a reference to the “day of Jesus” or “day of the LORD”).  In several other places in the New Testament the crown is called a “crown of righteousness”, a “crown of life”, and a crown or glory”.  In all of these cases the crown is given to believers by Jesus and all of them relate to the time when Jesus comes and sets up his kingdom on earth (the “day of Jesus” or the “day of the LORD”).  So Paul in Philippians 4:1 is painting a very personal picture about his feelings toward these believers, he feels very connected to them.  Because he is so connected to them and cares for them so much he wants them to “stand firm” in Jesus.

The idea of “stand[ing] firm” may have been a reference to the military past of some of these people’s fathers or grandfathers.  Remember that the city had been colonized by Roman veterans about 90 years earlier.  Roman military tactics were less about charging the enemy and more about maintaining a position.  In close combat squads of Roman soldiers (about 8 men) would form a square with two men on each side facing out.  As the enemy attacked they would “protect each others back” and were taught to “stand their ground” or “stand firm”.  If the Philippin believers had heard stories from their parents or grand-parents about this form of fighting the words of Paul would have communicated to them the importance of holding on to the truth about Jesus (the “ground” they were defending) and of having each other’s backs (sticking together).

If you read the “Intro to Philippians” you would know that the church was started with a few people Paul found praying by a river.  It seems that several of the original members were women.  In the early church several women had important roles.  The early church usually met in homes.  Most people would have had rather small homes, too small for the church to meet in.  Richers members of the group might have homes large enough to meet n and would use their houses for that purpose.  The New Testament indicated that several of these early “hosts” were women.  Here in Philippians 4 we see that there is some sort of a dispute between two women in the church.  We do not know what the issue was but it was out in the open and threatening the whole group.  In light of the “stand firm” comment Paul tells these women to lie in harmony, to have the same “mind”.  We might say he wants them on the “same page” and he tells them that they page they should be on is all about Jesus.  Paul then tells an unidentified member of the group that if they cannot get their act together that he (or she) needs to help them work it out.  Some people like to make a big deal out of some sort of church structure here.  The see leadership and structure but I think that is a stretch.  Paul doesn’t mention the “leader” by name but he does mention another “mystery” person, Clement, and the whole group and includes the two women as part of the whole group.  Paul also does something very unusual for him, he declares that all of them, including the two women, have their names written in the “book of life”.  In Revelation 20 we see this book again and it is used to evaluate who winds up in Heaven, so Paul is telling them that he knows they are all part of God’s forever family.  Euodia and Syntyche are not part of the false teachers who are troubling these believers but are part of the group.  The point here is that they all need to stick together, it’s not about individual power or some structure it’s about being a squad, a squad for God.

What ever was going on really was working against the group because in verses 4-7 Paul tells them to have a good outlook on their situation and to hang on.  If they are worried they need to pray.  The word supplication means to let someone know what you need or want, in this case they were to let God know what they needed.  They were also told to be thankful while asking.  It’s good to remember what God has already done for us.  By remembering God’s care for us and letting him know what we are afraid of and need we should have peace.  Both remembering and asking have to go together though.  I also like the fact that both their hearts and minds are protected.  Our relationship with God is just that, a relationship, and it involves feelings but it is also based on truth, the truth of who God is and what he has done and will do for us.

Verses 8-9 contain both of these ideas, truth and feelings, when Paul encourages them to think about their relationship with God.  Paul tells them to remember and to follow his example, the faithful trusting example of one who has suffered for God, and then they will have peace.

We need to remember what God has done for us.  We also need to remember that he is gathering a group to populate his forever kingdom and be a part of his forever family.  We need to see each other as part of that group and stick together.  We need to have each other’s backs.  Those soldiers would face their enemy and fight.  If they kept looking over their shoulder out of envy or distrust to see how good or bad the person behind them had it they would be overtaken and the whole squad would fall.  God has given each of us a unique part in his family based on his loving knowledge of how he has made us.  He has also given us power through he Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).  He is also available, prayer is the original “instant message” system, and willing to meet our needs.  That should give us hope and peace no matter what we face for him.

God thank you that there have been those who have gone before me.  Help me see the things you have done fore all those believers in the past.  Help me also remember what you have done for me.  When I star to worry help me bring my worries to you.  Let me be faithful in the job you have given me to do and not compare myself or my situation to anyone else.  Help me have peace and not envy.  Thank you for making me a part of your forever family.  Thank you that my name is in your “book of life”.  Let me live for the family and for you.