One of the quirky things I enjoy is stumbling across a popular scripture and realizing we have taken the passage totally out of context. Our friend, Kris, recently taught a great series on how to study the Bible. He said the root words for context in Greek actually mean “to weave it all together.”

Isn’t that lovely? And don’t we fail to weave it way too often?

For instance, tonight our friend Joe quoted (in context) the famous scripture from Phillipians 4: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This one is in every Promise Box. We have stitched it, stamped it, named it, and claimed it in several languages. And we generally use it to bolster our courage. To remind us how victorious we are going to be over that nasty obstacle in our way. Out with disease, poverty, and difficult calculus exams!! We can do all things through Christ!!!

Tonight, however, I heard these words woven together with all the words around them. Words about hunger and fullness. Poverty and wealth. Good times and bad. The writer was saying, “I’ve learned how to be content in all those things, because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Through Jesus, I can do all things.

Even suffer.