55-Days Devotional Journey - Day 21 June 21, 2025 (Saturday)

Scripture:
"Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life".
Philippians 4:1-3 (ESV)

Reflection:
The contextual background of this passage is that there were false teachers within the church in Philippi (3:2; 3:18-19). These "insiders" were apparently causing much spiritual damage to the Philippi church which prompted Paul to call for a strong stance against them. Paul is commanding the believers in Philippi to "stand firm in the Lord" in light of these dangers to their relationship with God.

Paul had earlier in his letter (1:27) challenged the believers to remain steadfast in light of persecution coming from adversaries outside the church. Here he urges them to remain steadfast in light of syncretistic ideas stemming from "fleshly" and false believers within the church. In both cases, Paul's exhortation to the church was to remain grounded in Christ and rooted in the Gospel truth.

The means of standing firm in the Lord are to focus on their (and our) present and future upward call of God in Jesus Christ, and strive for more of Christ and less of this world. As children of God, we are citizens of heaven, and because we are grounded in the Lord, we are assured of our immovable position in Christ.

Reflection Question:
Paul urges the Philippians to stand firm in the Lord. Reflect on the importance of standing firm in your faith and the mission, especially in the face of difficulty.

Prayer:
Father God, we thank you that we can stand firm in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that our anchor is sure and our future eternally secure in Christ. Even when we go through deep valleys and experience difficulties in our lives, we can rest in Your Son's name that these present difficulties had no power to move us from the God-given path You have given to us.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

By Pastor James Lam