Context. It’s an often forgotten thing in our world. Many people like to take things out of context to use to forward their own agenda or make others look bad.

Taking scripture out of context can dangerous thing. Satan knows scripture better then most of the world gives him credit for. He knows how to twist scripture. He convinces others that they can take only what they want or simply tries to lead us down the wrong path. So be watchful and don’t take a verse alone but read the sounding verses, or chapter, and pray that God would open the eyes of your heart so he can show you the verses true teaching.

So there’s my spiel on context and now here is how I got thinking about this subject.

I was reading Philippians 4 and I came across a very commonly used verse. “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Great encouragement, God is with us giving us strength through all things. But this is not then end of the chapter. Paul goes on to say “Yet it was kind of you to share in my trouble.” (Philippians 4:14) Yes God gives us strength but he also gives us friends and other Christians to help us through the hard times. For the rest of the chapter Paul commends and thanks the saints of Philippi for helping him in his time of need. We are not alone in our walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit is with us but we also have saints around us who we can lean on when we need it and I find that I’m often in need of a cruch.

I thank God for giving me strength and I don’t thank him enough for my friends and the saints in my life.