The letter Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi is one
of his shortest letters – only four chapters – and it is also one of his most
tender letters. The church he
established there was thriving, and he addressed only a couple of problems that
existed there. The purpose of his letter
was primarily to thank the Philippian Christians for their financial support
while he was in prison in Rome, chained to a guard 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. And in his letter he encouraged
them to find joy by living an exchanged life, that is to say, to die to self
and live in Christ. The phrase “in
Christ” is used eight different times in this letter, and the words “joy” or “rejoice”
are seen sixteen times, indicating that Paul was driving home the point that
only in Christ can we find real joy.
In chapter 1, Paul teaches that, in Christ, we have joy in
all circumstances. Even while he was in
prison under the orders of the evil emperor, Nero, Paul was able to find joy in
knowing that every six hours a new guard would be chained to him. These were not just any run-of-the-mill
prison guards. These guards were some of
Rome’s finest young men, members of Nero’s own team of personal bodyguards. So Paul seized the opportunity that Nero
himself had made possible to talk to each of these guards about Jesus for the
duration of each six-hour shift. As a
result, Paul was planting seeds of salvation in some of the finest, most
intelligent, strongest young men in the entire Roman Empire. Because Paul chose to look at those results,
rather than his dire circumstances, he was able to choose joy rather than
self-pity, worry, anger, or frustration:
Now I want you to know, brothers and
sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the
gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the
whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters
have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel
without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
In chapter 2, Paul teaches that, in Christ, we find joy in
serving others. In verses 6–11 we can
read a beautiful hymn that was sung in the early churches, a hymn that reminds
us that, although He was God, Jesus did not use His divine nature to His own
advantage, but rather, He chose to take on the nature of a servant, even unto
death on the cross. In the same way,
Paul was teaching that we are not to cling to our own rights and privileges,
but rather we should become servants to Christ by serving others and by sharing
the good news of Christ with others. We
are to serve selflessly, without expecting anything in return, humbly, just as
Christ served others. God gives us the “want
to” serve, and He is able to work in and through us to accomplish whatever He
wants. How exciting it is to know that
God allows us to partner with Him in His work!
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships
with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5).
For
it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good
purpose (Philippians 2:13).
When
we choose to serve God in that way, without grumbling or arguing, we have the
same joy that Paul had, knowing that our service is bearing good fruit:
Do
everything without grumbling or arguing . . . So you too should be glad and
rejoice with me (Philippians 2:14, 18).
In
chapter 3, Paul teaches that joy comes from faith in Christ, not by our own
efforts. He reminds us that no matter
how good we might be, our own selfish good works are nothing but garbage, that
righteousness comes from God through faith.
When we choose Christ, He gives us the joy that comes only through faith
in Him:
But
whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost
all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness
that comes from God on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:7-9).
And
finally, in chapter 4, Paul teaches that joy comes through praise and prayer. He reminds us not to worry, but to trust that
God will meet all our needs. He reminds
us to focus on the positive rather than worrying about the negative, no matter
what circumstances we may be in. When we
choose to trust Him for everything, even in our darkest hours, He gives us joy:
Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)!
Do not
be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things
(Philippians 4:6-8).
I know
what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned
the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who
gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13).
I hope
that you will read the entire book of Philippians and study it. Underline every time you see the words “joy,”
or “rejoice,” or the phrase, “in Christ.”
Remember, as you read it, that Paul was chained to a Roman guard in a
dark, dirty, rat-infested prison as he wrote each word.
If you want to learn more about my journey,
my own decision to choose joy in all circumstances, I have added a tab on the
upper right side of this page where you can purchase my book, “I Choose Joy.” It is the story of how I trusted God to give
me my children, and how I trusted Him when I gave them back to Him, even when
He took my son home to heaven at age 21.
I pray that God will use it to strengthen you, and to help you choose
joy, no matter what your circumstances may be, no matter what loss you may have
suffered.
My
prayer for you and for me this week is Paul’s prayer for the Philippians, found
in chapter 1, verses 9–11:
And this
is my prayer: that (our) love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth
of insight, so that (we) may be able to discern what is
best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus
Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
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