Do As You have Seen Me Do Philippians 4:9

As a continuation of the instructions for the church located in Philippi, Paul the apostle directed their attention towards times when they were anxious, and he told them the things about which to think such as things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. In chapter four and verse nine of his letter to the Philippian church, Paul tells the church members to consider all the aspects which he had given, shown and lived before them, and he challenged them to do the same. We read:

Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The verse begins, “Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:” Four items of consideration are presented to the Philippians. First, the things “which you have both learned” which are things “to be apprised, to be increased in knowledge, to hear, and be informed”. Second, things they “received” or “to receive something transmitted or to receive with the mind”. Third, things they “heard” which means “to attend to, consider what is or has been said, to understand, perceive the sense of what is said” and Fourth, things which they had “seen in me” which means “to perceive with the eyes, to perceive by any of the senses, to perceive, notice, discern, discover”. Then after presenting this list of four, Paul simplifies what their response should be which is to “do”. The word “do” in the Greek language is “prasso” which means “to exercise, practice, to be busy with, carry on, to undertake, to accomplish, perform, to commit, perpetrate”. In other words after seeing and being a part of such a great example as Paul was, the Philippians were to do the same things.

The verse continues, “and the God of peace shall be with you.” As a promise to the Philippians for their obedience to “do” the thing they learned, received, heard and seen, Paul tells them “the God of peace shall be with you”. We remember that this is the same God who will give “peace that passes all understanding” as mentioned in verse seven of this chapter. This “peace of God” is given as a result of following the example which Paul set before them, not only in his teaching, but also in his very life.

We are told in the book of James in chapter one and verse twenty-two,

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

The same idea has been conveyed by Paul to the Philippians in this verse. If we are to ever demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ to others , it will be because we “do” the things which we have “learned, received, heard and seen” not only in the word of God, but also in the lives of others who live as examples before us. As we consider Paul's words, perhaps we should examine ourselves in two areas: First, do we “do” the things we have learned, received, heard and seen”? And Secondly, “Do others learn, receive, hear and see” the life of the Christian in our lives? May the Lord help us to “do” the things set before us, and live our lives as examples before those who come behind us in this life.

Next time Paul tells how the Philippians took care of him, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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