Philippians – Radical Joy
Who do you want to hang out with most in life? Who is that person who smiles a lot, no matter what, and seems to exude unending inner joy, even when life around them seems to be falling apart. Describe them in your mind. Think about them right now. Praise God for them!
What traits do these joyful people have? I think of these characteristics immediately:
–Smiling eyes with the grin on their faces. Deep wrinkles have been formed because of their consistent smiles.
–Open arms, ready to offer a timely hug that is meaningful and appropriate.
–Listening ears intent on hearing and understanding without minds working on a answer. They just listen.
–They listen because they are learners. They love to learn about all kinds of things.
–They seem to be the one who will have an encouraging perspective to a difficult situation.
–They are problem solvers with “what if” instead of “but…”
–They are the first to volunteer to help out when needs arise.
–Their homes are open and inviting.
–They are humble and don’t know how much people want to be around them.
–They give life to those whose breath has been knocked out of them.
–They do more than trust in Christ, they know how to suffer for him. Trusting and suffering is considered a privileged joy.
–They are a delight, not a drain on the Kingdom of God.
I think of these character traits as I read Paul’s encouraging words to the church. He is a cheerleader as he suffers for Christ in jail. He is still a delight to the Kingdom work even though he sits in a dank dark hole chained to the wall of his jail cell. Wow.
“Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ.”
“There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.”
Jesus told us there would be suffering. Paul positive perspective tells us to suffer for Christ is a gift! We become more and more like Christ in every one. Suffering is part of growing and maturing like Christ!
I have discovered that great people of endless joy God put in my path to help me grow, those whom I have admired and observed because they impressed me so much, all suffered great pain in hard circumstance in their past. They do not talk about the pain or the circumstance but give glory to God for helping them through it. Suffering made them greater in humility, joy, peace, gentleness, graciousness…all the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit. This is no coincidence. This is inner, inexplicable, unspeakable joy in Christ in the making while suffering in them imperfect world for Him!Read and be blessed. See what you think….
Philippians 1, The Message
22-26 As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.
27-30 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I do not want to be a drain on Your Kingdom work. Forgive me when I was. Thank you for teaching me about joy and encouragement. Thank you for not giving up on me and helping to see the importance of listening, learning and growing. Here I am. I’m Yours. Transform me. Transform Your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
This popular song was introduced while I was in high school by Sonny and Cher. It was sung at his funeral. I don’t know why, but it popped into my head as I read Paul’s celebration and proclamation that, no matter what, The Message of Jesus Christ cannot and will not be squelched! Paul, in jail, celebrates how well the church is doing in proclaiming Christ. “I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered.” Prospered!! What an attitude! What a joyful perspective Paul has all because of knowing Jesus Christ intimately. 
And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.
Philippians 1, The Message
1-2 Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.
When we read what Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, we find ourselves in the company of a joy master. Paul doesn’t tell us that we can be happy, or how to be happy. He simply and unmistakable IS happy! NONE of his circumstances contribute to his joy. He wrote from a jail cell, his work was under attack by competitors, and after twenty years or so of hard traveling in the service of Jesus, he was tired and would have welcomed some relief. But he is full of joy!
Dear Heavenly Father,
“It doesn’t work unless you rub it in!”, said the little boy to his sister. The boy had overheard his mom telling him how to apply sunscreen to his body before battling the rays of the sun. Now he was passing on this good information to his sibling who was just dabbling it on. Yes, he’s right. We have learned from experience these last few days being in Florida, reading on the beach or playing in the pool, it doesn’t work unless you rubbed it in.
Think about it and be joyful…
I did some research of homes they might live in near us that would be of less care and work for them. I was browsing online when a brand new area of homes that fit exactly what I was looking for appeared. These homes were less than five minutes away from where we lived. I saved the information, cut and pasted it to an email that I would later send to mom after a phone call. Lord, is this what you want for them? Tell them.
Ephesians 6, The Message
Relationships
We waste a lot of time doing things of no real value. We worry over getting things done and miss what is in front of us who need our attention most. Our favorite phrase is “why put off today what you can put off tomorrow”? Then there is the extreme opposite thinking that is just as bad. “I must get my list done today so I don’t fall behind with my list of to do’s for tomorrow.” We waffle between doing nothing and doing everything. All thing done without God in it is a waste of time. We waste enormous amounts of time to indulge ourselves and our lists.
Don’t be a tormentor or teaser of the faith by making fun of those who wish not to drink alcohol, overeat or take drugs that impair judgement. This has happened to me…inside a church of believers…in the United States! (I don’t go there anymore.) I was called a prude and being “judgy” because I don’t see the need for it in my life. I don’t need to drink to have a good time. In my mind, I’m thinking, “And whose’s judgy here?” It’s amazing how darkness turns the tables in our thinking as we humans try to justify what we do. Just because I didn’t drink I didn’t fit into their social circle. Ouch, that hurt.
18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5, The Message
Ephesians 5, The Message
What?! Let’s rethink. What IS right thinking?
