Philippians 4:13 is probably one of the most popular bible verses in the bible, you know besides John 3:16. But Philippians 4:13 is probably every athlete’s favorite bible verse. “For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Now for the first 16 years of my life (I’m 17) I always implied that bible verse with winning basketball games and making a certain shot. I thought that through Christ I can totally dunk the basketball or lift this car. I know these aren’t the best examples, but you get the gist because maybe you’ve done the same. So, today I am going to put in place one of the most well-known Bible verse of all time.
The apostle Paul is the author of this book and he wrote it to a church in Philippi. Paul has always fascinated me because when you read some of the books he wrote, he sounds like the most perfect Christian of all time. Yet, at the beginning of his life, he literally murdered Christians because he hated them so much. Long story short, he was converted and completely turned his life around. He went around preaching the word of God and because of it he was hated. Once he turned this life to Christ, he didn’t have an easy life, he had to run for his life because people wanted to do to him what he used to do to Christians. Yet, he found a way to praise God in every situation. He came to an understanding that this world and everything in it is meaningless. Phil. 3:7-9 “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” I hope one day; I can say the same thing and really mean it.
Let’s take into consideration the two versions of Paul when technically Saul and Paul. (Before Paul was a Christian his name was Saul) Saul had it all, he was loved by those of this world and wealthy. He never had to wonder where his next meal was coming from and if he traveled, he always had a place to stay. Paul, on the other hand, was hated by the people of this world. He had to run out of cities for his life, he didn’t always have a place to stay and at times were starving. He was tortured for his faith, imprisoned, shipwrecked 3 times, he was literally stoned and left for dead and then was ultimately beheaded. He had a taste of both lives. Phil. 4:12 says “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” Paul had been on top of the world and he had been on rock bottom. Yet, it didn’t matter to him.
Because it doesn’t matter if you have everything or absolutely nothing, God is with us and we can get through it. If we are on top of the world Christ is with us and when life goes to crap Christ is still with us and we will get through it. You want to know why?
For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Emily <3
