“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).

This scripture challenges me very time I read it. Sometimes we read such statements by Jesus and say to ourselves, “He can say that because He is God.” Such a response minimizes the challenge and call to maturity. For instance, when Jesus says, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” that comes out as humanly impossible (Matt. 5:44). When He tells us to forgive those who sin against us, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times,” we struggle with it. That’s something only God can do, we tell ourselves. However, Paul could tell the Philippians to put into practice whatever they had learned, received, heard, or seen in him; and that baffles me sometimes (Phil. 4:9). I ask myself, isn’t Paul being a little arrogant here? But, then, I quickly realize that it’s only my pathetic inadequacy protesting so loudly.

Acknowledging my human frailty, how can I tell those around me to live as I live? As a preacher, shouldn’t I be able to say the same to my congregation? As a husband and father, am I able to say that to my family? What excuse do I have for the lack of confidence? Is there something special Paul possessed that enabled him that way that I don’t have? Wouldn’t that make God partial?

In Galatians 2:6-8, Paul debunked the claim of super Christians, as some excuse themselves by. Talking about his first visit to Jerusalem, he said that whatever the so called super Apostles were, made no difference to him. “God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.” In other words, the same God who gifted and enabled Peter, James, and the other leaders in their ministry, is the same Holy Spirit who gifted and enabled Paul, as well as every other Christian (1 Cor. 12:4-6, 11).

So, what enabled Paul to live in such a way that he could make such bold statements that we may find so difficult to make? I believe the answer is in his attitude to discipleship.

First, Paul rejoiced in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). His circumstances didn’t dictate his feelings (Acts 16:25). Neither did he allow anxiety to consume him. Rather, he prayed and petitioned God about everything with a thankful heart. Therefore, God gave him peace to guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

Second, Paul always focused on only whatever was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (8). With that attitude, Paul received grace for Christlike living, which he could recommend to others (9). That, I believe, was Paul’s secret.

With the same attitude, and by God’s grace, we too can live above the world and be able to point others to Christ through our lifestyle.