The New Testament in Brief (11)—Philippians - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8 NKJV

The New Testament in Brief (11)—Philippians
Philippians, meaning “lovers of horses, or of the race,” is a pastoral epistle, encouraging and refreshing. It was written to an assembly afflicted by poverty, which had yet maintained a devoted affection for Paul since being converted through his labors eleven years before. The epistle presents true Christian experience as a racecourse leading on to the glory of God. Paul is the example of this experience, and though in prison, the vibrant yet peaceful joy of the apostle permeates the whole book. The secret is simply that Christ is everything to him:

• in chapter 1, Christ is his motivation in life;

• in chapter 2, Christ is his example;

• in chapter 3, Christ is his object;

• in chapter 4, Christ is his strength.

Chapter 2 contains a magnificent declaration of the greatness of the willing humiliation of the Lord Jesus, from the place of highest glory to that of deepest suffering and the death of the cross. This is then followed by God’s blessed answer in exalting Him as Man to the place of highest preeminence (vv. 5–11). Such a Person engaged the affections and admiration of the apostle Paul. Therefore, he not only bore patiently with every unpleasant adversity, but also rejoiced in seeing in each of these an occasion of fuller blessing and of greater glory to the Lord Jesus. This grand triumph of faith makes the book of sweetest value in encouraging similar faith in our own souls.

-- L. M. Grant

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

-- Mrs. A. A. Whiddington