Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4). Perhaps another way to say this is "be well, thrive, be glad because of the Lord!" Really? Clearly we are given an imperative to be always joyful. So just how does that work? Is there a difference between forcing joy or pretending to be bubbly when in fact we are hurting? Is joy something we can have even in the midst of pain? Did that text really mean to say "always"? Is there something about allowing our trust in God's graciousness and goodness to settle us and give us a sense of peace in such a way that joy can still bubble up from within us, even when circumstances are challenging? What can we learn as we listen to a person who has so much to say about joy, even as he writes from a prison cell? Questions certainly worth thinking more about!
To listen to Pastor Chris' sermon once again, click here
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4 - TNIV)
In addition to the word "rejoice," there are a number of other significant words in this passage that may give us some clues about the kind of experience that Paul is describing. Take a few moments to reflect on the significance of the words that appear in bold print above and how they are related to giving thanks:
Thanksgiving - a way of expressing "thanks," which is another way of acknowledging that we have received a gift. When our lives are viewed largely as a 'gift" that has been graciously shared with us, rather than something we have earned or are otherwise entitled to, it changes our perspective in powerful ways. Take a moment to think, not only about how it may impact our own personal situations, but also the way it changes the way we interact with others.
Gentleness - when life is viewed as a gift, not something that is competed for or earned, we no longer need to view each other as hostile competitors. What's more, being recepients of a gracious gift ourselves, at least when we truly grasp this, we cannot help but respond with humility. This leads us to gentleness.
Anxiety - often the result of our fear of scarcity, that somehow there will not be enough to go around, and perhaps not enough for us either. It's a response that is intensified when we have lost our grip on the essienial graciousness of God toward us, which makes difficult times more difficult than they would otherwise be.
Peace - The result of the realization that we are not defined by what we do or do not have, or how easy life is or is not for us at the moment, but by the assurance that we are held securely in the hand of a loving Creator who is very fond of us and assures us that the last word belongs to God.
What would be different in our lives this week if we were to take these words seriously?
Psalm 100 (TNIV)
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
What kinds of things do you have to give thanks for?
Take a few moments to watch the video to the left and see if it stirs some things in you for which you can give thanks.
Sit with those things for awhile . . . and give thanks!
When we are gripping our own egos, acheivements, possessions,
or whatever we think we have acquired for ourselves
tightly in our fists,
it is very difficult for us to open our hands to receive what God would like to pour into them. Relaxing our grip can be very hard,
But if you have ever tried to pour anything into someone's clenched fist,
you know that there is little that it can receive.
Once hands are turned over, open to receive,
how much more easily can they be filled to overflowing.