A Quick Spiritual Nugget...with some Special Sauce: Why is Phi 4:8 as important as Phi 4:6-7?

You know that Philippians 4 is nigh commercialized in different tidbits...bumper stickers, pictures, paintings, Tim Tebow's face...well Tim Tebow, who put Phi 4:13 on his face during a college game (over the tape under his eyes) and beat the other team, may be inclined to tell you that that whole chapter works together. Phi 4:13, and also Phi 4:6-7 are nigh commercialized, but what about Phi 4:8?

Alright, so the short answer is "It's in the Bible like everything else that's sacred for teaching and reproof (2 Tim 3:16-17).

However, let me tell you why Phi 4:8 works as scaffolding for both previous verses:



Phi 4:6-7 (AMP): Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Phi 4:13 (AMP): I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Am I the only one who is fired up now? I hope not.

Take a look at these verses. I used to AMP to get some extra emphasis on the verses. Look at the bolded parts. God's Peace builds a fort around our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus, who also empowers us to be self-sufficient in his sufficient.

Well, think about it from the other verses in the epistles
"My grace is made perfect in weakness"-2 Cor 12:9
The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
"We must take thoughts captive to obey Christ" 2 Cor 10:3-6

Remember that our God is a God that empowers His Work. And that last bolded (summarized) Scripture tells us to take thoughts captive to obey Christ. Well how can we approach the throne if we are unwilling to check thoughts?

Answer: We can't! So we can't go to the throne, we don't get the Peace, and we don't get the Power.

So, that brings me to the point...
Phi 4:8 (AMP): For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Fix our minds on all these things...the reverence of God, honorable things, just things, things of love and kindness and graciousness, things WORTHY OF PRAISE.

Well, taking thoughts Captive to obey Christ would involve focusing on those things. Who that is saved would NOT revere at the prospect of not going to Hell and getting the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:15-16)? Or revere at being taken care of (Nahum 1:7)? Or the prospect of being strong and courageous through Him who does not abandon us (Joshua 1)? Or the opportunity to take dominion and go out and be the vessels necessary to spread God's Image and Likeness (Genesis 1:28)? The same God that gave us the Standards in Exodus 20:4-18 (and throughout the Word really)? That's a lot to revere in right there but this post is getting long so I'm going to just continue...

We get justification through faith in Christ (and thusly He is just), Christ is God and is Love (John 1:1-8/Heb 1:3/1 John 4:8), who was more excellent than someone who died as a ransom for all sin of all time? Christ is definitely worthy of PRAISE.

So...it connects like this...if we are taking thoughts captive to obey Christ, THEN we aren't worrying. We get that Peace from making requests and thusly God empowers up to do the things He intended us to do (He works through us). And that's my take on how Philippians 4:8 works as a scaffold for Philippians 4:6-7 and v13 (among other things).

Hope you enjoyed!