Thursday: Rejoice in the Lord Always
One of the most-used apps on our smartphones is Google Maps. Most of us cannot remember what we did before GPS-based maps existed on our phones. We may be nervous heading toward a place that we have never been to before, but with Google Maps on our phones, we can confidently venture out and find our way in any foreign city. Could this confidence be an illustration of the kind of rest God wants to give us with His prophetic timetable?
Sometimes, however, we may enter the wrong address into our apps, or we may just decide not to follow the directions because we think we know a shortcut. In either case, we may end up somewhere we didn’t want to be — and most definitely not in a restful frame of mind, either.
Read Philippians 4:4-6. What is Paul saying here to us about the way to have true rest, true peace, even amid a harried and painful world?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
In this passage, Paul is not saying to rejoice, always, in all the trials that you are facing. Instead He is saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” No matter our present situation, no matter what trials we are facing, if we dwell on God, on His goodness, His love, and on His sacrifice on the cross for us, we can rejoice in Him and have peace for our weary souls.
Just the very tone of the texts implies rest, peace, and a transcendent hope of something beyond this world.
Imagine, too, the kind of rest for our souls that we would have if, indeed, we could be “anxious for nothing.” This hardly seems realistic for anyone in this world (even Paul had plenty of worries), but again, knowing that a loving God is ultimately in control and will save us into His kingdom can, surely, help us put the things that we are anxious about into proper perspective.
The “Lord is at hand”? That is, He is always close to us, and that as soon as we close our eyes and rest in the sleep of death, the next thing we know is the return of Christ.
No question, life is full of tensions, trials, and struggles. None of us escape them; certainly the apostle Paul didn’t, either (see 2 Corinthians 11:1-33). Nevertheless, his point is to tell us that even with all that we endure now, we can rejoice in what we have been given in Christ and, indeed, we can find rest for souls, even now.
| Read Philippians 4:4-6 again. In what ways can you apply these wonderful words to your experience right now in whatever trials and tribulations you are facing? |
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It is no secret that I am retired. This is supposed to the "restful" period of one's life! Personally, I prefer to think of it as "busy rest". I have plenty to do to occupy both my hands and mind. When I am not observing and photographing birds, I am looking after teenage grandsons - tutoring them in maths and science. I look after the IT needs of the local chapter of the U3A organisation. And I write a comment every day on Sabbath School Net. I spent three days this last week digging holes in the garden and filling them up again, burying a new irrigation pipe in the process, so Carmel and I don't trip over a tangle of hoses. Most of these tasks are enjoyable and even though at times my brain refuses to think, and my muscles ache, by the next morning I am ready to tackle the work all over again.
I like the notion of "Rejoicing in the Lord always"! It carries with it that sense of "busy rest". While we are resting in the Lord, we can be busy in the business of sharing God's love to others.
Jesus told a parable about talents:
Resting in Jesus/salvation/the kingdom of God is not a case of just sitting down and relaxing. It carries with it the sense of satisfaction of being occupied in something that we enjoy. And I believe that if we truly put that principle into practice it is one of the strongest arguments against the accusation of legalism that is directed towards Christians.
"Occupy till I come!"
Hi Maurice and everyone!
I wish the subject of this quarter was not ending this week, because we (at least I do) have so much to learn about "Rest in Christ". But until then "“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 3:14.
We have to continue to "love our neighbors as ourselves", and to grow in Christ until His marvelous appearing at His Second Coming.
God's blessing to you all! Happy preparation day today, and Have a Happy Sabbath day!
Today's lesson asks: "In what ways can you apply these wonderful words (Philippians 4:4-6) to your experience right now in whatever trials and tribulations you are facing?"
Right in the middle of those verses, there is a very important phrase that almost risks going unnoticed: "The Lord is near". Commentators on this phrase variously propose that Paul could have been referring to:
a) Jesus anticipated second coming being near/soon,
b) Jesus being ever-present,
c) both a & b.
From knowledge of Paul's wider writings, there is good reason to suggest Paul had both in mind. If that is the case, we can see that this phrase appears to be the foundation to the rest of what Paul is saying in these verses - as well as the closely connected thoughts of Philippians 4:12,13.
Therefore, because it is truth that the Lord is near - both ever-present now and also coming soon in 'visible' form to 'wrap things up'- we have a rock-solid foundation for:
*) rejoicing in the Lord in all situations and circumstances - regardless of how they look at the moment
*) giving our anxieties over to God instead of trying to deal with them by ourselves
*) receiving peace from God in return as we do - and keep on doing - so.
These thoughts then flow over to Philippians 4:13 where Paul shares his 'secret' that he has learned from the 'school of incredibly hard knocks' - keep constantly in mind that I can get through this because the Lord is near to strengthen and empower me.
Here is an example of how I frequently apply awareness of the above. When I find myself in the middle of something that has arisen and is troubling me, I talk with God something like this:
Hello Phil
I would like appreciate today's prayer you've taken down, it has taken me to a deep lesson, to be honest, brother, and this will be my prayer always.
Thank you
An apostle Paul, imprisoned in , he wrote an encouraging letter to the believers in Philippi. Some Bible commentators have labeled the book of Philippians, the epistle of joy. In this short, four chapter letter, Paul uses the words "joy" or "rejoicing" repeatedly. The theme of chapters are as follows;
*) Chapter 1 is "Joy in Trials".
*) Chapter 2 is " Joy in Humility"
*) Chapter 3 is "Joy in Surrender"
*) Chapter 4 is " Joy in Gratitude"
The lesson:
Paul learned to live in the joy of Christ because he discovered how to rest in Christ. He believed that Christ would strengthen Him in every situation and supply His needs (Philippians 4:13,19). His confidence was fixed on the divine reality that his "citizenship is in heaven" and that one day, Christ would "transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body". He eagerly awaited the coming of the Saviour Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20, 21, NKJV).
Jesus said: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world". Earlier that evening He had said: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I".
Perhaps we can understand from what Jesus said, why Paul could exhort believers to "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice". This from a man who had experienced many reasons to not rejoice always.
It is the knowledge of heavenly realities that allow the troubles of this life to have no influence on our ability to rejoice in the Lord "always". The darkest of days will not be able to extinguish the Blessed Hope promised, and the constant presence of God through His Word and Spirit, if we constantly partake of these great blessings given to us, which had given Jesus His peace in every circumstance.
Chapter 4 of Paul's letter to the Philippians is titled 'Rejoice in the Lord' and 'The Peace of God' in the King's James Version. I think it is important to read all of Chapter 4 to get a better understanding of Phil.4:4KJV - "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
I noticed that Paul admonishes the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord instead of squabbling with each other. He was writing to them about not wasting time with setting themselves up in this world by focusing their attention on this world, but rather to focus on living their life in Christ Jesus rightly - joyfully.
Paul's letter, v.1-3, addresses his brethren, - dearly beloved and longed for fellow-laborers -, 'stand fast in the Lord', followed by v.4 to admonish them to build their relationship with God, Christ Jesus, and each other, and how to do that *in the spirit of rejoicing*.
Again, after reading chapter 4, I have the impression Paul directs them to focus their attention on that *living the life of Christ Jesus joyfully* is what matters, being careful not to get caught up in the cares of this world - Phil.4:1-3KJV.
I think the capacity/ability to *rejoice in the Lord always* comes from staying focused on God's 'Way of Life'. If focusing on the cares of this world overtake the effort to keep one's spiritual eyes on Christ Jesus, the believer ends up struggling to find peace in this life.
Should the believer decide to single-mindedly focus on and carefully walk the path of Life, then "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Phil.4:7-9KJV.