Paul gave the Philippians a lot to think about as he exhorted them to rejoice in the Lord and encouraged them to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and commendable. Sitting in chains in a Roman prison cell, Paul gave the congregants in Philippi a lot to think about as he wrote, “If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippi was where Paul has been imprisoned for the first time as a missionary, but his imprisonment in Philippi was not the only occasion Paul experienced what he encouraged the Philippians to think about. The following is a list of hardships that Paul recorded in II Corinthians 11:23-28:
- Imprisonments with countless floggings, and often near death.
- Five times he received 39 lashes on his back.
- Three times he was beaten with rods.
- Once he received a stoning.
- Three times he was shipwrecked.
- For a night and a day, he was adrift at sea
- On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from his own
people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. - And, besides other things, he was under daily pressure because of his anxiety for all the churches he helped to start as a missionary.
Paul knew what he was talking about when he advised the Philippians about what they should be thinking about. He was facing the certainty of an uncertain future that would either lead to his freedom or to his death.
Recent news reports confirm the certainty of an uncertain future in which our world finds itself. As I have watched the news, I have found myself wrestling with Paul’s exhortation to rejoice in the Lord. Observing manifestations of despair, I have been numbed by the cries of people who grieve within the borders of Israel and Gaza. Within the midst of this uncertainty, I have been confronted by the certainty of God’s love about God’s love that followers of Jesus are called to proclaim as we pray for and all people who find themselves in uncertain times. I have found myself wondering how Paul could have been joyful as he wrote that followers of Jesus should rejoice in the Lord always.
Perhaps, Paul was anticipating that the Philippians would be wondering the same as he repeated his advice about rejoicing in the Lord by writing, “again, I will say. Rejoice.” I think Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that his statement about rejoicing in the Lord was an affirmation of faith about the reality of God’s presence even in uncertain times.
From 1618 to 1648, Europe, and especially Germany, was devastated by famine, disease,
and destruction during the Thirty Years’ War. In 1636 Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran pastor in
Eilenburg, Germany, wrote the hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” that is still sung today.
“We do not hear much about this war because it happened such a long time ago. But this
war caused unimaginable destruction, death, and famine across Europe. All the countries in
Europe were at war with each other. The people, cities, and villages in Germany suffered the
most. Many had their homes and property burned. Enemy soldiers treated them cruelly.
Survivors ran for their lives and left everything behind hoping to find friendly people and
protection in the next town.
Eilenberg was not destroyed as people sought refuge and protection, but there were too
many people crowded together within the town’s walls. In 1636, a plague spread quickly.
Almost 5,000 people died of illness that year in the small city. Soon Martin Rinkart was the only
pastor left alive to perform funerals. Sometimes he had to perform funerals for up to 40 or 50
people in one day! His wife died but he kept giving his energy to aid the people of Eilenberg.
What made the plague worse was that the people could not leave the city. The enemy
army of the Swedish surrounded them and said they would starve the city out unless the men and women of Eilenberg gave them a huge sum of money. All alone, Martin Rinkart left the safety of the walls to negotiate with the enemy army. The Swedish army agreed to accept a sum of money the city could pay, and the siege was lifted.
Despite all the horrible things that happened that year, Martin Rinkart wrote a hymn as he followed Paul’s advice to think about “anything worthy of praise.” Here are the words to the hymn he wrote as he rejoiced in the Lord in the certainty of uncertainty.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has
done, in whom this world rejoices, who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our
way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and
blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us still in grace, and guide us when perplexed and
free us from all ills, in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given; the Son, and him who reigns with
them in highest heaven; the one eternal Go, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it
was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Paul rejoiced in the Lord as he faced the certainty of an uncertain future by writing to the Philippians and to all followers of Jesus:
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What are you thinking about?
What Are You Thinking About?
by Pastor Marc Brown
October 15, 2023
Accompanying Scriptures: Philippians 4:4-9
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for October 15, 2023
Scripture Lesson Philippians 4:4-9
The Good News “What Are You Thinking About?”
Music “Think on These Things” by J. Dishman
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “Improvisation on ‘Weston'” by Bonnie Barrett
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