THINK TOGETHER
Do you know what the word “content” means? (Content = satisfied or happy with what you have, having enough) Are you content?
READ TOGETHER
Philippians 4:13 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. Here it is:
Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I’ve seen this verse written on the sneakers of famous basketball players. I’ve seen it as the banner on a famous photographer’s website. And when I was in the fifth grade taking guitar lessons my guitar teacher would quote this verse to me to remind me that I really can be a great guitar player someday (I’m still not a great guitar player).
Sometimes people read this verse and think that it says that Jesus will help us do anything we put our minds to. Or that if we believe hard enough Jesus will make us good at what we do, or that he will help us accomplish all our dreams.
But then we’re just using Jesus like the genie in Aladdin or like the fairy godmother in Cinderella.
One of the most important lessons that you can learn about reading your Bible is that you can’t just read one verse by itself. You have to always read the other verses around it. So here are the verse right before Philippians 4:13.
Philippians 4:11-12. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
When Paul says “I can do allthings through Jesus” he means both the good and the bad. The easy and the difficult. The “low” and the “abounding.” The “hunger” and the “plenty.”
Jesus doesn’t take away all of our hard situations. Instead he helps us to trust him and love him in any situation whether it is good or bad, happy or sad, easy or hard. When your connected to Jesus you can make it through anything because he is always with you, loving you no matter what.
Because of Jesus everything will work out in the end.
With Jesus we can make it through anything today.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Watch this fairy godmother scene from Cinderella. Talk about how the fairy godmother changes Cinderella’s situation, but Jesus doesn’t always change our situation. Sometimes he wants to teach us to be content with knowing him even in the hard situation.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
Whether I’m having a bad day or a good day you are always with me loving me no matter what. Thank you!
Amen.
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