From the Rectors Desk
June 21, 2026
Christian: What Does Your Report Card Look Like? (Philippians 4:4-9)
This Sunday as we observe and celebrate the National Indigenous Day of Prayer, our Collect encourages us to pray:
You have rooted and grounded us in your covenant love,
and empowered us by your Spirit to speak the
truth in love, and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.
Mercifully grant that your people, journeying together in partnership,
may be strengthened and guided to help one another to grow into the full
stature of Christ, who is our light and our life." Amen.
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.
In our second reading this Sunday, Paul in his letter to the Christians in Philippi wanted them to embrace principles beyond moral lessons; he wanted them to build Christlike character that embody and/or define who Christ is.
As a young adult prior to graduating from high school in Nigeria, I joined a Rotaract Club International. "Rotaract clubs are global service organizations sponsored by Rotary International for young adults and professionals. Members develop leadership and professional skills while organizing service projects, raising funds for charity, and socializing within their communities." What I unknowingly and literally joined to help develop my leadership, professional skills and to help integrate me into a wider society have now become one of the most outstanding moral lessons of a lifetime for me. Many thanks to Rotary Club International.
At Rotaract Club, we learned "The 4-Way Test." The Four-Way Test is a globally recognized ethical guide for personal and business relationships, which was created in 1932 by businessman Herbert J. Taylor to save a company from bankruptcy, it was later adopted by Rotary International. "The 4-Way Test" is applied to the things we think, say, or do, the test asks these four questions as part of our moral lessons in life:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ... Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:4-9).
How would you define your own "4-Way Test" guided by Christian principles Paul is talking about here? What does your report card say? What does it look like? If I may simply put it, here's your Christian "4-Way Test."
1. Rejoice on purpose (Philippians 4:4) “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” For our 2026 reality joy isn’t denial. It’s defiance to remain focused that all shall be well. Rejoice in the Lord always, not in circumstances. "Do not worry about anything" when your phone shows bad news with all going on around you, your spirit can still choose worship and praise. As neuroscience agrees, gratitude rewires your brain.
2. Pray specifically about your needs and be thankful (Philippians 4:6) “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. The implication means that our worry and anxiety can grow in silence. But prayer shrinks it all. “Petition” = ask God for needs. “Thanksgiving” = Thank God while you’re still waiting. That combo flips your nervous system from panic to trust.
3. Guard your mind (Philippians 4:7-8). Peace of God guards heart + mind → and thinks of 8 good things: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. The implication is, God does give supernatural peace. That's what Philippians 4:8 does which filters our minds to focus on what our attitude in Christ should be, and how our 2026 reformed mind should be.
4. And finally, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice” Paul here is not calling for a piece of info, but he is saying here "watch my life, copy it." Discipleship is about imitation to be like Christ in word and deed. You don’t think your way to peace. You practice your way there. The promise is always there in v9. “And the God of peace will be with you." The goal isn’t just “peace of mind." It’s "God of peace with you." God's presence means > peace. Worry and anxiety say “you’re alone”. But Paul is admonishing us here, “Emmanuel = God with you." Thanks be to God. Amen.
With every blessing,
The Reverend Wilson Akinwale
Rector