Learned Already

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Philippians 3

But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already. (Philippians 3:16 NLT)

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9 NLT)

One day not too long ago I had fairly lengthy phone conversations with two young men—one in England and one in Oregon—who have been like sons in the faith to me. We talked about the changes, challenges, and uncertainties we are experiencing in our lives at the present time. One of these men is in his 40’s, one in his 50’s, and I’m in my 80’s, yet the challenges we’re facing are very similar in their effect.

As we talked and encouraged each other, it hit me again that the answers are the same as they were half a lifetime ago when I was in my early-40’s and preparing to move from Jamaica to the UK to start a Bible Training Centre. It’s about simple faith in God’s love, care, and ability. It’s knowing in head and heart, and acting in faith on that “knowing”, that God is faithful and that God has a plan that we can trust even though we cannot see its details at the present time.

Paul wrote about his uncertainty concerning his circumstances and his certainty concerning God’s care and plan: “I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.”  (Philippians 2:23 NLT) Paul didn’t know what was going to happen to him next, but he knew God is faithful.

The life-giving attitude is faith in the faithfulness of God. The life-embracing response is to believe, to trust, and to speak the words that declare my faith and confidence in God and his care—words that will activate faith in my heart and encourage faith in my friends’ hearts.

We live daily with uncertainty concerning the circumstances and what is going to happen. But we live with certainty concerning God’s faithfulness, God’s care, and God’s provision!

Prayer:

Father, I love you and I love your Word. Thanks for speaking to me so simply today to keep doing what I have already learned – to believe you, to trust in you and your word(s), and to speak my faith in my own words. I trust the certainty of your faithfulness in a world of uncertainties!  Amen.