Thoughtful Love; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Sometimes, it is good to revisit a passage of Scripture in a different translation (or in this case paraphrase).  Let’s take another look at the first passage in Philippians that deals with prayer in chapter one (Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.  Learn to love appropriately.  You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.  Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. (Verses 9-11)

May prayer transform our love.  Look at all the different descriptors that Peterson uses in conjunction with love.  Love flourishes.  Love is not just about quantity – it is also about quality.

Quality and quantity – that’s great.  But there’s more to think about.  Our love must also be appropriate, sincere and intelligent.  It is not just some sentimental sappy touchy-feely type of thing that takes no thought.  Christian love is thought-filled and thought-provoking.

Digging even deeper, we see a lover’s life defined as circumspect and exemplary.  Exemplary is somewhat easier for me to get a hold of.  It means of the best quality – above reproach.  But, what does circumspect mean?  So, I looked up the word on Webster’s Dictionary website, and this is what I found:

Circumspect: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences: prudent

And here are some synonyms that Webster had listed:

alert, cautious, careful, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

This is the quality that is to be above reproach.  We need to be prudent in all loveliness.  We need to consider all the circumstances and all the possible outcomes of our actions and words before we put them in motion.

But with the quality and quantity of love that comes from God, we do need to put our carefully refined meaning of love.  Doing so will mean fruit of the Spirit – or of the soul as Peterson puts it.  It will mean making Christ attractive to all – without losing the core of who Christ is.

If we are effective as God’s ambassadors, then the people who worship God will snowball – more and more people will get involved in the glory and praise of God.  Life will be richer for all involved!

So let us pray together for this sincerity and this intelligence to consider all circumstances and all possible outcomes so that we will love appropriately.  That, my brothers and sisters, would be exemplary.  Love this way – well done.  Love early and often.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Why Worry When You Can Pray; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

I remember in the home that I grew up in that my mother had a small metal placard hung on the wall.  The placard showed hands clasped together in prayer.  It also had the words (I think that I’m remembering this right) “Why worry when you can pray?”  The Apostle Paul presents this very question to the church at Philippi.  Read from Philippians chapter four (NLT):

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Verses 6-7)

Do NOT worry.  Pray!  Pray about everything – things that bring you joy and things that cause you grief, things that put you in a position of plenty and things that put you in a position of need.

When you put these things together in prayer, you will find that a peace that transcends you ability to fully know will settle upon your soul.  It is the very peace of God.  In Hebrew, this is called SHALOM.  That level of peace goes far beyond the absence of war.  It penetrates to all levels of relationship.  Shalom takes into consideration the well-being of all people – indeed, of all living things.

It is this shalom that will guard our hearts and minds as we strive to live for Jesus Christ.  It will protect us from being too self-centered.  It will protect us from greed.  It will protect us from violence at all  levels – physical, emotional, spiritual, verbal… I think you get the idea.

Basically – Why worry when you can pray?  Leave worry behind and trust in God.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Prayer Shot Through with Love; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Christians, be thankful for one another.  Be thankful in prayer that is shot through with love for our heavenly Father and for all our siblings in Christ.  May our prayer for one another echo the prayer that Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to the Philippians.  Read from Philippians chapter one (NJB):

I thank my God whenever I think of you, and every time I pray for you all, I always pray with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the very first day up to the present. 

I am quite confident that the One who began a good work in you will go on completing it until the Day of Jesus Christ comes.  It is only right that I should feel like this towards you all, because you have a place in my heart, since you have all shared together in the grace that has been mine, both my chains and my work defending and establishing the gospel. 

For God will testify for me how much I long for you all with the warm longing of Christ Jesus; it is my prayer that your love for one another may grow more and more with the knowledge and complete understanding that will help you to come to true discernment, so that you will be innocent and free of any trace of guilt when the Day of Christ comes, entirely filled with the fruits of uprightness through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God. (Verses 3-11)

Are you in a constant prayer of thankfulness for your Christian brothers and sisters?  Paul was.  So should we be thankful in prayer for our Christian siblings.  There is joy in such prayer.  So, we’ve answered the how of prayer…

Now, what do we pray for – for them and for us?  Pray for sustained partnership in spreading the gospel message of Christ.  Pray for assurance that God will complete His creative work in us.  Pray for understanding of the grace that allows us to be involved in defending the gospel of Christ.

And pray for love to grow – love that is built upon knowing and understanding the call of Christ in our lives.  This communal discernment helps us to be as innocent and free of guilt before our Lord – because it helps us to take hold of the fruits of uprightness in Christ Jesus.  And all of this is done for the glory and praise of God.

That is prayer shot through with love and with the attitude of thankfulness and joy.

May it be so!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Totally Joyful Obedience; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Remember who you are.  (Remember whose you are.)  And live up to what you have attained through Christ Jesus. 

What does this look like? 

To live up to the standard of the Way of Jesus means obedience – fully and immediately.  Do these things, and you will shine brighter than any star in Hollywood or on the hard court or on the gridiron.  Do these things, and you will shine brighter than any star in the sky – save one, the Son of God.  Read from Philippians chapter two (NRSV):

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. (Verses 12-15)

 

Obey God when your spiritual leaders are around… Obey God when your spiritual leaders are away on mission or on sabbatical.  Do NOT say when the cat is away the mice will play.

We work and strive not for our pastors.  We work and strive for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and he is always with us!  God is with us enabling us and willing us to do good works for the pleasure of the Creator.

Just do it… with joy.  And you will shine like stars in the midst of a generation that is only worried about appearances.  Remember who you are, and remember whose you are.  Live like children of the heavenly Father.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Live Up to What You Know; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

There are many topics that Christians disagree vehemently on.  Sometimes we allow topics like these to sour our relationship and forget about the things we can and do agree on.  And, in the midst of all this bluster, we forget to live into what we have already attained together through Christ Jesus.  It is this very thing that the Apostle Paul points to in his letter to the Philippians in chapter three (NIV):

Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Verse 16)

It is a simple message, but we frequently ignore it.  Don’t worry about the subjects that we disagree on…  Rejoice in the subjects that we find in common.  Rejoice in Christ Jesus – the focus of our lives as Christians.

Remember who you are, and live up to what you’ve attained.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Memorial Sunday Meditation; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

It is Memorial Day Weekend – a time to remember those who have died.  It is also Sunday, the Lord’s Day – a weekly time to set aside to meditate on God.  How best can we spend this doubly blessed day?  Read the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian church from chapter four (NRSV):

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. (Verses 8-9)

Let us purge from our minds the violent and retributive ways of the world around us.  Let us purge both the cynicism and the escapism of the world around us.  Let us purge our need to tear someone down in order to build ourselves up.

Instead, let us seek things that are true and honorable and just.  Let us seek to be pure and pleasing – trying to find things in one another to commend.  Yes, find these things of excellence and things worthy of praise in our Christian brothers and sisters.  Find them and give voice to them.

When we think about such things, goodness will grow in our hearts.  When we embrace these things together with the Spirit of God, good things will happen.  Whatever we learn from the spiritually mature in our midst, let us put it into practice.  And God’s peace will be among us.

Think about this question:  Who in my life has been a spiritual father or mother to me – like Paul was to the Philippian Church?  Identify people like this in your life.  Seek to follow their example.

And I know that Memorial Day is to remember those who have died; but, if your spiritual parent is still living, find some way to let them know what she or he means to you.  If, alas, your spiritual parent is not living, remember them anyway.  Remember both you living and dead spiritual parents by striving to live like a spiritual parent for those who are spiritually younger than you.

Let us remember these things of this Memorial Day Sunday!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out   

The Christian Bucket List; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

In the past eight days, we have exhausted at the very least the surface levels of the concept of Christian joy in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  It is no wonder that many people think this letter should be given the subtitle of REJOICE.  I agree whole-heartedly.

Today, I want to look carefully at Paul’s wish in Philippians chapter three.  We need to ask ourselves, “What do I most want to do?”  Read from the NIV translation this passage from Philippians chapter three:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Verses 10-14)

So, here it is… Paul’s bucket list.

1.     I want to know Christ.  (Indeed, Paul gave up many things that he formerly considered valuable in his attempt to know Christ.)

2.     I want to know the power of Christ’s resurrection.  (Paul’s greatest knowledge of the power of Christ’s resurrection was the blinding light and vision that he had on the way to Damascus.  It changed his life.)

3.     I want to fellowship in the sufferings of Christ.  (Paul wanted to suffer for the sake of Jesus.  He had caused many to suffer and die for the sake of Christ.  Undoubtedly, many of his friends and colleagues afflicted Paul when he converted to the Way of Christ.)

4.     I want to become like Jesus in his death.  (That is a morbid thought – becoming like Christ in his death.  But Paul did not fear death.  He knew what awaited him in his death.  He welcomed the idea of being reunited with Christ Jesus and his heavenly Father.  Paul did not steer away from potential death that came along as he preached the Good News of Christ.)

5.     I want to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  (Paul embraced a new way of life after his Damascus Road encounter.  In many ways, Paul had received a new life and had already been resurrected from the dead.)

Now that’s a weighty list.  Do we need to shoot for such a lofty set of goals?  Paul anticipates this line of thought and tries to impress the journey-like nature of these goals.  Paul knows that he has come nowhere near obtaining these things.  Paul knows that he will never attain these goals.  The idea he presents is to press on toward these goals.

So leave behind your ways of the past.  Strain forward to the Way of Christ ahead of you.  It is the prize that we are called heavenward in Jesus. 

Where is heaven, though?  It is not some vague place up there in the sky, though it includes the sky.  Heaven is a way of living in the light of Jesus – inspired by the Holy Spirit of the living God.  Heaven is all around us.  Let us discover it together as the Spirit leads us and as Jesus holds our hands.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Joyful Worship in God's Reality; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Christian joy is worshipful.  Don’t allow this fact to detain worship to a Sunday morning worship service.  Being worshipful goes far beyond what we do in corporate worship.  Worshipful joy expands exponentially when we see the needs of other people, acknowledge that we have resources to supply that need, and give generously (without full thought to our own needs), sacrificially.  Read from Philippians chapter four (NJB):

As for me, I am full of joy in the Lord, now that at last your consideration for me has blossomed again; though I recognize that you really did have consideration before, but had no opportunity to show it. 

I do not say this because I have lacked anything; I have learnt to manage with whatever I have.  I know how to live modestly, and I know how to live luxuriously too: in every way now I have mastered the secret of all conditions: full stomach and empty stomach, plenty and poverty.  There is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me. 

All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships.  In the early days of the gospel, as you of Philippi well know, when I left Macedonia, no church other than yourselves made common account with me in the matter of expenditure and receipts. You were the only ones; and what is more, you have twice sent me what I needed in Thessalonica.  It is not the gift that I value most; what I value is the interest that is mounting up in your account.

I have all that I need and more: I am fully provided, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the offering that you sent, a pleasing smell, the sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And my God will fulfill all your needs out of the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  And so glory be to God our Father, forever and ever. Amen. (Verses 10-19)  

Want to be full of joy?  Hold your possessions in this world loosely.  Give freely.  Learn to live contently with plenty or with poverty.  Learn to survive much or little food.

How do we learn such things?  We learn through the Spirit of Jesus who strengthens us to do things that seem impossible to our shallow minds.  We learn such things by trusting God when it seems that we have gotten in over our heads.  We learn such things by trusting our loving heavenly Father to supply all our needs through the riches of Christ Jesus.

Yes, there is great Christian joy in holding on loosely to possessions.  As we hold on loosely and give sacrificially to people in obvious need (like those of Moore, Oklahoma), we will have a joy that is strong, complete, unwavering, life-giving and worshipful.  And our joy will become worshipful to God in a concrete way when we give of ourselves sacrificially.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Worshipful Joy; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Christian joy is strong, complete, unwavering, and life-giving.  This joy comes through prayer and is protected by prayer.  True Christian joy is bracketed by prayer and has prayer all the way between.

But what is the goal of Christian joy, Spirit-filled joy?  The goal of Christian joy is the worship and praise of our heavenly Father.  Worship and praise in the Lord is at the epicenter of this life-changing joy that the Spirit gives us.  Beyond this worship and praise nothing else matters.  How strong is that life-changing epicenter of Christian joy?  Read from Philippians chapter two (NRSV):

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. 

It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.  But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you – and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me. (Verses 14-18)

Worship and praise of the Lord trumps murmuring and arguing – something that seems to be quite popular these days.  Murmuring and arguing draws crowds in which people often feel quite alone.  Joy found in the worship and praise of God soundly defeats murmuring and arguing.  That in itself is a miracle!

But, there’s more.  Worship and praise of the Lord also soundly defeats the possibility of the end of life here on this earth.  The joy contained in full worship and praise of God reminds us that Jesus is the Word of life.  Nothing can take that life away from us – even the sacrifice of our life for the sake of Christ Jesus.

We always have strong cause to rejoice and have joy because, in part, to the worship and praise of our Creator.  So, our list for Christian joy is expanded.  Christian joy is strong, complete, unwavering, life-giving and worshipful.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Prayer Guards our Joy in Christ; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

What a wonderful source of joy we have in our Lord Jesus Christ – strong, complete, unwavering, and life-giving!  We must do everything that we can do to protect such a joy. 

And it needs to be protected… because sometimes we wander.  Sometimes we lose our focus.  Sometimes we bicker and argue with the very people who should be our joy in Christ Jesus.  Read from the beginning of Philippians chapter four (NIV):

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.  Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Verses 1-7)

Paul’s joy and crown is the very people who are his brothers and sisters in Christ.  This joy leaves no room for disagreements that divide.  Paul may have been thinking here of the disagreement that he had with Barnabas about John Mark.  It divided.  It hurt all involved.  And, worse yet – it hurt their witness to the gospel of Christ Jesus.

But the divide amongst Paul and Barnabas and John Mark healed over time.  It healed with the help of other Christian brothers and sisters, I am sure.  It is this same help that Paul pleads with the members of the Philippian church to show to Euodia and Syntyche.  Together, we must work through our differences so that the cause of Christ will not be diminished in our labor.

When divides among Christians are healed, then we return to the theme of Philippians – Rejoice.  Did you hear that?  In case you didn’t – Rejoice!  Rejoice and be gentle in how you relate to one another.

Though our joy in Christ Jesus is strong and complete and unwavering and life-giving, we sometimes are NOT strong.  Sometimes we are vulnerable to one another.  So, Paul bring us back to what brought the subject of joy up in the first place in his letter to the Philippians – the subject of prayer.

God is near.  Never forget it or attempt to deny it.  The Lord is near.  There is no need to be anxious about anything.  Bring your concerns and you divisions to God.  Bring to God the things you cannot understand.  And the peace of God will anoint us.  The peace of God will guard us – our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  The peace of God will guard our joy in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord…  I say it again, “Rejoice!”

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Rejoice IN THE LORD; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

At the beginning of chapter three of Philippians, Paul confesses his continual emphasis on joy and rejoicing.  To rejoice… to have joy is essential for a healthy Christian.  But it is important where that joy comes from.  Read from the first verses of chapter three of Philippians (NRSV):

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. 

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!  For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh – even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. (Verses 1-4a)

Rejoice in the Lord.  Paul is writing things that he has written before.  To repeat the command to rejoice in the Lord is not wearisome to Paul.  The repetition is meant to safeguard the Philippian church.

What is there to safeguard against?  There are some teachers that preach circumcision and works of righteousness through the Law.  There are some people who wish to rejoice in their connections to the Jewish heritage.

To rejoice in our heritage and what we have done is the wrong focus for rejoicing.  It is the wrong avenue for joy.  No confidence can be put on our own efforts or our own ancestry.  Our efforts are doomed to failure.

What should we rejoice in..?  Who shall we rejoice in?  Rejoice in the Lord.  Worship in the Spirit, and boast in Christ Jesus.  Boast in Jesus.  Rejoice in Jesus.  Worship in the Spirit.  Do these things, and you will find that you are on the only road that will lead to healthy Christian joy – joy that is strong, complete, unwavering, and life-giving.

Rejoice in the Lord.  Rejoice through worship and prayer.  Then, reap the benefits of true Christian joy.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Joy is Strong; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

True Christian joy is a strong bond.  It unites when we are physically apart and when we are physically distant from one another.  Look at the strength of the bond of joy and love between Epaphroditus and the community at Philippi from chapter two of Paul’s letter to the Philippians (NIV):

Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, a faithful worker, and a courageous soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.  Now I am sending him home again, for he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.  And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him – and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow. 

So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and that will lighten all my cares.  Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and be sure to honor people like him.  For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while trying to do for me the things you couldn't do because you were far away. (Verses 25-30)  

Epaphroditus longed to see his church family at Philippi.  They also would be glad to see him alive and well.  For these reasons, Paul sent him back.

It was in the attitude of love and joy that Epaphroditus was sent in the first place.  Through the love and joy of Christ Jesus, we can do things that we did not think were possible for us.  Through the love and joy of Christ, we can risk our lives for the benefit of other people.

This type of devotion should be celebrated.  Celebrate with great joy.

The joy that comes only from God is strong, complete, unwavering, and life-giving.  Who can ask for anything more?  And we are not even through the entire letter yet…  There is more!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Life-Giving joy; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

As we allow the Spirit of Christ to work through us, we receive complete and unwavering joy.  This joy gives us a reason to be… a reason to live.  True Christian joy is life.  Read from Philippians chapter one (NLT):

I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.  I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith.  Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me. (Verses 23-26)

When we live for Christ, we live for others.  As we live for others, our joy is expanded exponentially.  When we live for one another our experience of joy in our living faith with grow and grow.

And this growth in joy is a gift of God through Jesus Christ.  Let us boast in that gift!  Look at what Jesus has done for me.  Look at what Jesus has done for us.

Yes, true Christian joy is life… a reason to be… a reason to live.  True Christian joy is complete, unwavering and life-giving.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Compete Joy; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Through the Lord, we can have unwavering joy.  But, wait… there’s more.  The Apostle Paul also writes about complete joy through the Lord in his letter to the Philippian church.  What is the way to complete joy?  Read from Philippians chapter two (TNIV):

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Verses 1-4)

The first component to complete joy is being united with Christ.  In this union, we find comfort and fellowship.  We find tenderness and compassion.

Comfort and fellowship and tenderness and compassion… they can lead to great joy.  It is truly a joy to receive these things.  But to only receive makes joy quite shallow.  There is a deeper call that will bring us to complete joy.

That deeper call is to reflect and give of comfort to others… to offer fellowship to those people who are lonely or vulnerable… to offer tenderness and compassion where they are most needed.

It takes a family to do these things… a family that agrees to have the same attitude and thought process and language and actions.  And that family is none other than the family of God.

The question: “What’s in it for me?” becomes “How can I glorify God in this situation?”  When we think in union with one another, no person is the central focus… excepting Christ Jesus.

This passage reminds me of an old children’s song.  And children’s songs can teach much to children and to adults… if we pay attention to the spirit behind the words.  The song that I am thinking about is called, “Joy”.  In the song, JOY is an acronym.

Jesus first…

Yourself last…

And Others in between.

And that, of course, is how we spell joy.

What kind of joy do we receive from the Lord?  We receive unwavering and complete joy… that we in turn share with other people from our very core to our every action.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Unwavering Joy; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

So, we continue through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which I have subtitled: REJOICE.  Within the first few verses of the letter, we came upon the word joy.  And that joy was built upon prayer. 

Not much further into chapter one, we come upon the idea of rejoicing.  And Paul’s rejoicing occurs in a less than savory circumstance – imprisoned for preaching Christ to Gentiles.  This imprisonment has inspired Christians to preach Christ more boldly – some knowing Paul is in prison for this very thing and some wishing to cause Paul more trouble in his imprisonment. 

Still, Paul speaks of rejoicing… and he underlines his rejoicing by mentioning it not once but twice.  Read from Philippians chapter one (ESV):

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Verses 14-20)

What brings Paul joy in this uncomfortable position?  Christ is boldly proclaimed.  Joy is firmly founded in Christ Jesus and the spread of his gospel message to everyone.  Paul rejoices.  Yes Paul rejoices.  Let us join Paul in rejoicing… in being overwhelmed with joy even when our circumstances might bring tears of distress and fear.

How does Paul rejoice?  Paul rejoices through the prayers of other Christians.  Paul maintains his joy through the Spirit of Christ working in his life.  Paul maintains his joy because he knows that whether by his life or by his death Christ will be honored.  Yes, joy is bound up in laying down our own honor for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you want unwavering joy in your life?  Follow the example of the Apostle Paul.  Embrace the gospel message of Christ Jesus.  Pray.  Ask for the prayer of other Christians on your behalf.  Seek the honor Christ before your own honor.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Joy in Prayer; Philippians

May the mumbling commence!

Rejoice.  Be joyful in attitude.  It is a constant theme in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian church.  Indeed, if Paul’s letters were given titles other than their intended recipients, this letter could be aptly titled REJOICE.

We do not need to read very far into the letter to see a form of the word joy or rejoice.  Read from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Philippians (NASB 1995):

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Verses 1-6)

Joy is inextricably linked to prayer.  Do you experience joy when you pray?  We should.

Prayer is a primary conduit for our relationship with God.  Prayer helps us to remember all that God has done for us… grace extended and peace indwelling.  Prayer helps us to remember our Christian brothers and sisters.  Prayer calls us to participate in the gospel of Christ Jesus.

When we fully engage ourselves in prayer, when we conform our lives in prayer, joy is a fruit of that engagement.  And those good works that God calls us to do will be perfected until the coming of the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.  There is great potential for joy in being perfected… in being perfected in what God has made us to do.

I feel that joy when I interact with the Scriptures.  I feel that joy when I have the privilege to preach the Word.  I feel that joy when I immerse myself in story… particularly when I immerse myself in the Greatest Story ever told.  I feel that joy when I write biblically-based dramas.  I feel that joy when I help bring story to life on the stage.

But one of the foundational elements to joy is prayer.  Let us pray with joy – relating to God, remembering God, remembering our Christian brothers and sisters, and participating in the gospel of Christ Jesus.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out