Well - after a week away and almost a week of trying to catch up after being away - I am now focusing on Philippians. Rejoice! I don't know why this is one of my favorite books - or why Philippians 4:4 has become my favorite verse : "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice". (4:4).
I am not always a "rejoice" type of person - but the call to rejoice still inspires me. God does not want us to drag our feet and be miserable. We are not to be burdened by a bunch of rules and regulations - we are to rejoice! Whatever we are going through, we can find something to rejoice in. This doesn't mean we are never sad. We are to rejoice IN THE LORD. We know there is a purpose to our lives, even if we don't see it. We know somehow we will get through whatever is happening even if we don't know how. While we keep working to become better representatives of Christ, God is the one who will really make a difference. God will sometimes even use our failures to bring about success.God is the source of a joy that is not dependent on whatever is happening to or around us.
Philippians is a mostly positive book. Paul is so thankful for the Philippian support and their ongoing ministry. He is a proud papa and the Philippians are his baby - one of the first European cities to hear and accept Paul's message. Even though he is writing from prison, he is rejoicing - that through his imprisonment the guards are hearing God's word, that through the Philippians many others are getting the message, even that through his infirmity God's strength is being shown. If pedigree or righteousness mattered - he could boast in those - and maybe so could some of the Philippians - but all that means nothing because his (and our) whole purpose is to worship God and live a life that bears witness to Jesus Christ. It's not all about Paul.
There are so many inspiring nuggets in this letter (to name a few):
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, thought he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited....every tongue [shall] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."(2:5-11)
"...it is God is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (2:13)
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..." (3:10)
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (4:7)
"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing,....think about these things" (4:8).
There is so much inspiration to keep going, keep following, never give up. There is encouragement to be of one mind - the mind of Christ - even for the two women who seem to have had a disagreement. But, in the end run, it is not about Paul or the Philippians, it is about Christ. We will stumble, we will fall, we will endure hard times, we will go through times when our witness is not shining so brightly - but God loves us and is taking care of us, even if we can't always see it, and that is what is important. Let us focus on that. Let us not worry so much about what we think, what we feel, what we want. Let us focus on Jesus Christ, Then we can become of one mind. Then we can truly worship. Then we have some hope of being of one mind.
No, it is not all about me - or you, or Paul, or the Philippians. This is freeing. The weight is off us. We just need to focus on Jesus and keep working on being more like him. Then we can rest assured that God can use us and our efforts. Then we can rejoice whatever happens. Then we can have the "peace that passes understanding". Then "my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (4:19) Then we can rejoice - no matter what.
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