NRSV
Lots about joy here: verses 1, 4, and 10. Joy is fruit of the Spirit. If I'm missing joy, I'm missing out on part of my walk with God.
v. 13: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
It's not a vending machine verse - "I can do whatever I want, because Jesus will help me." Nope. It's a summary of verses 11-12. Paul has learned the secret of living through hardship, riches, full-pantry, hunger... that secret is dependence on Christ!
v. 17: "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account." Wow. Giving blesses the giver maybe MORE than the recipient. I need to become more generous, not to receive the blessings, but there are side benefits. :-)
v. 19: "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Paul can tell them this, because he's experience it himself.
NLT
v. 1: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord."
Therefore... because the Lord will return soon and transform our bodies into one like his, using the power he has to put everything under control (3: 20-21). And furthermore, it's only right, because HE's been faithful to us.
v. 4-9: "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and your minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."
v. 13-14: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share will me in my present difficulty."
Two questions to self:
1)Have I shared with others in their present difficulty? hmm...
2)Have I allowed others to share with me in MY difficulty? yes.
Is there an imbalance here?
v. 19: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches..."
What ARE God's glorious riches? Well, he certainly owns all the wealth of the world - we are only stewards of it. But he has untold greater riches beyond this: all the powers of "magic" in the Universe and beyond are his. Do I EVER need to worry about anything with a God like this? I guess not!
The Message
"Stay on track, steady in God."
"God doesn't want his children holding grudges."
"Make it clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up at any minute!"
This version really brings it home to me - I'm often working from my own sense of irritation in others not conforming to me. But my job is to be on THEIR side. And furthermore, the whole point is that we have an urgent message. Jesus is coming. Soon. Jesus wants them to be on his side, too.
"It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
I'd like that to be a permanent feature of my life.
"Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity."
Imagine glory that big - bigger than the Universe. Bigger than all the time that every has been and ever will be. It's inconceivable! And yet this incomprehensible, magnificent, astounding God invites us to know him personally and has shown us the most tender and beautiful of love. If I thought about that more frequently I might be a little kinder to the people around me.
NIV
v. 6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What am I anxious about? ... When there is something I am to ask God about it - with thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for already, and sometimes I forget all the wonderful blessings he's given me in pursuit of that "one thing" which isn't mine. Note to self... God has been very good to me and answered so many prayers in unexpected and beautiful ways. We have a good God, and rather than grumbling and being anxious, I ought to every sing his praises!
v. 7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
If I am talking to God about my worries rather than worrying about them, and I realize that He is near, and I am coming to God with an attitude of thankfulness, I will experience God's peace. God's peace will guard my heart. Does it mean my heart will never be broken? Probably not... But maybe it means I'll have my heart set on the right things. God's peace will also guard my mind. Does it mean I'll never be confused or wrong about something? Surely that's not it. But maybe it means that when I'm seeking God, my knowledge and thoughts will be headed toward truth - toward Christ.
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