How many of us try to do things they feel God is leading them to do the things in their everyday life? When Paul says stay true to the Lord, we can wonder what all of that encompasses but it’s really not that complicated.

Every Friday we meet together at Able, and we get preaching based on scripture and its meaning, and often we can get fired up causing us to think more about what it instruction is telling us to do. I believe that is why the Holy Spirit wants us to be a part of the church – so we get inspired and in turn, become more godly as we go out into our community and glorify God with our lives.

We read here that the apostle Paul thought of his fellow workers to be his joy and crown in life. Of course, we normally don’t talk that way, and I doubt any of us have been told that from anyone involved in ministry. And I’m guessing none of us have likely ever thought much about how the actions of others has caused us to say that they were our joy and crown of life. But Paul’s statement I have to believe was sincere and an example of how we can encourage others who are making a difference in our lives.

As an example, each of us have a group of people we have influence over and they listen to the things we say. What if your friends said to you one day that they respect you for the things you stand for and the way you never give in to the non-biblical opinions of the day we live in? Would we not be encouraged by that?

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 

Being people of encouragement comes naturally to people who are principled in the way they act and the things they do. Philippians 4:4 says that you are considerate in all that you do. Being considerate means you place yourself as less important as that of your brothers or sisters in the Lord. It should also mean that you place the unsaved people in your life as people God has brought into your life to influence for goodness and hopefully play a part in their coming to know Jesus.

Then Paul for the sake of unity and peace says something else to the Philippian church that stands out.

Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT) Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 

When we read verse 2 we can see he is encouraging them to put away their petty disagreements and for the sake of the relationship that they have with Jesus.

Have we ever seen this ourselves? In 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT) When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

That’s what petty disagreements can be many times. Childish actions and offenses that go back and forth hurting the body of Christ – the church. We are called to stand tall and encourage the people to not take offenses easily and build them up in their faith.

We have it in us as the Holy Spirit inspires us to be the people God has called us to be. It’s hard at times to lay down our right to be angry and set people strait but as we lead in love, we should look for ways to be more corrective and patient with those who are not where we are spiritually. But above all else, the encouragement we read in Philippians 4 is a perfect example for us all to imitate and learn from as coming from one of the most Godly and encouraging people we can point to in the Bible.