The Secret of Being Content: A Journey Through Philippians
Contentment is a mystery. Seriously. When Paul says in his letter to the Philippians that he has “learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,” the Greek word for “learning the secret” is “memuēmai,” which is commonly used to describe mystery. Learning the secret is being initiated into a divine mystery that is revealed through experience. Does that make you feel like you are in the pages of an epic adventure? You are.
Join us on an eight-week journey where we will:
- dive deeper into Paul's letter to the Philippians,
-learn more about the life of Paul
-study Scripture more deeply
- and discover his secret to contentment which is centered on life with Jesus.
www.lindsayhausch.com
The Secret of Being Content: A Journey Through Philippians
Week 5 Day 4
DAILY READING
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing
worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all
things […] I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his
resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:8;10
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and
dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many
seeds. Anyone who loves their life (psuché) will lose it, while anyone
who hates their life (psuché) in this world will keep it for eternal life
(zóé). Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant
also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.“Now my soul
is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No,
it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your
name!” John 12:23-28*
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God
unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.
“Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be
born!”Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh
gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be
surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows
wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it
comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the
Spirit.” John 3:3-8
Note: There is a distinction between the words John uses here for “life.” In Greek, there are two words for life. “Psuché” means natural life. “Zóé” means eternal life. I have placed the Greek word in parentheses to help clarify.
QUESTION
Nicodemus was confused when Jesus told him that he had to be “born
of water and the Spirit” in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).
What is your understanding of this fundamental truth of the Christian
faith?