September 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:1-13:

¹Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Devotional

That is surely not an easy lesson to learn, namely, to be con­tent under all circumstances of life, no matter what betides. The life of the apostle Paul was full of hardships. He was beaten, cast into prison, stoned; he suffered hunger, and often faced death; but he says, I have learned to be content. That is a lesson we all must learn, if we want to be happy. A discontented, dissatisfied person is not happy. But how shall we attain unto true content­ment? The lesson of contentment is learned only in God's school. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." We have brought nothing into this world, and we can carry nothing out. All we need for this life is food to eat, and clothes to wear. If we have these we should be therewith content. Riches do not bring con­tentment. The psalmist says, "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." And Solomon says, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." Again, "Better is little with righteousness than great revenues without right." "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." How much better it is not to covet, but to be content with the things we have, and to trust God, for He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor for­sake thee."

Prayer

O God we thank Thee that we know that Thou rulest over all, and that without Thy will not a hair can fall from our head. Thou also knowest what is for our best, and Thou dost cause all things to work together for our salvation. May we then rest in Thee and be content, content under all circumstances of life, knowing that Thou art with us never to leave us nor forsake us, but to see us through and bring us to Thy heavenly kingdom. Pardon our sins, and make us thankful. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 Tim. 6:6-8; Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16, 8; 1 Tim. 6:9; Heb. 13:5.

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