Philippians 4 - Wednesday 17th July

Today’s chapter is Philippians 4

Tom writes:

Another treasury.  Another chapter we could explore for months and still have only just begun.  I’m tempted to focus on the repeated image of our lives being fragrant offerings to God - it is definitely something I need to press into, I think it is a defining theme in Philippians. But instead I just want to think about ‘rejoice’.  I will say it again: “rejoice” (I like the way Paul does that so I thought I’d copy it - it is about the closest I’ll ever get to being apostolic). For all the straining and pressing and doing Paul has been on about you could start to think of him as just a little bit earnest. Maybe he starts to seem a bit like that annoying boy at school who, when answering questions, put his hand up so hard that he lifted himself off his chair. And Paul certainly went the whole hog for Jesus. But an over-earnest bloke was not who he was. He was incredibly enabling of others. He wasn’t trying to prove himself as better than others. He was trying to help others do better in life. He rejoiced in what others could do well.  He encouraged them to do the same. He encouraged people to focus on the good and the excellent. He called people to copy him and to emulate his pursuit of God and at the same time to laugh and to celebrate and to gaze in wonder at great stuff. Paul wanted to spread joy, deep joy, lasting joy in the Lord.

Paul wanted those things because that is what Jesus wanted for us. That is what Jesus still wants for us. He wants to give you the secret of being content in all circumstances. He wants to give you his fountain of joy that gives you strength in your troubles. Jesus wants to meet all your needs according to his glorious riches so you feel amply supplied even when no one shares a single thing with you. Jesus wants you to experience so much of his grace and his peace that you cry “ah, what does it matter!” no matter what happens. So Jesus is calling you to meet him in prayer. And to meet him in thanksgiving. And to meet him in his rejoicing. So let’s respond to that call and actually choose to meet with Jesus. If you make that your life goal, you will find not only joy and peace but also the riches of the glory of the grace of Jesus Christ.

Question for reflection

Who and what is good and praiseworthy in your life? How could you increasingly thank God for those people and things?