Some Things to Do

4 ¹My dear brothers [and sisters], I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you. Continue following the Lord like I have told you. ²I ask Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³And because you serve faithfully with me, my friend, I ask you to help these women do this. These women served with me in telling people the Good News.* They served together with Clement and the other people who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life.* ⁴Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. ⁵Let all people see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. ⁶Don't worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. ⁷And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it. ⁸Brothers [and sisters], continue to think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. ⁹And do the things that you learned and received from me. Do the things I told you and the things you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.

Paul Thanks the Philippian Christians

¹⁰I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. ¹¹I am telling you these things, but it is not because I need something. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. ¹²I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. I have learned to be happy when I have enough to eat and when I don't have enough to eat. I have learned to be happy when I have all the things I need and when I don't have the things I need. ¹³I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. ¹⁴But it was good that you helped me when I needed help. ¹⁵You people in Philippi remember when I first told the Good News* there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help. ¹⁶Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica. ¹⁷Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the good that comes [from giving]. ¹⁸I have all the things I need. I have even more than I need. I have all I need because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. Your gift is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice* offered to God. God accepts that sacrifice and it pleases him. ¹⁹My God is very rich with the glory of Christ Jesus. God will use his riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. ²⁰Glory to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen. ²¹Say hello to each of God's people in Christ. God's people who are with me say hello to you. ²²All of God's people say hello to you. And those believers from Caesar's* palace say hello, too. ²³The grace (kindness) of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Good News, message The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with God forever. book of life God's book that has the names of all God's chosen people (Rev. 3:5; 21:27). sacrifice An offering or gift to God. Caesar The name or title given to the emperor (ruler) of Rome.