Rejoice
Barbaranne Kelly, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
Finally. . . rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 3:1).
When reading through Philippians, it’s not difficult to find that one of the main themes is joy. As I’ve dug deeper, there are many other themes, but joy saturates this letter through and through. Paul mentions joy sixteen times, from praying with joy for his friends in Philippi because of their partnership in the gospel (1:4–5); to rejoicing that regardless of others’ motives, Christ is being proclaimed (1:18); to rejoicing over his friends’ faith as they shine as lights in a dark world—even if he is to be martyred for bringing the gospel to them (2:15–18).
Indeed, carrying the gospel to the Gentiles proved to be filled with danger and affliction for Paul. During the course of his ministry, he’d been imprisoned, lashed, beaten, stoned nearly to death, shipwrecked, adrift at sea, surrounded by dangers of every description, in toil and hardship, experienced sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure (2 Cor. 11:23–27). The believers in Philippi would remember that during his first missionary visit, Paul was imprisoned, together with Silas, after being falsely accused, attacked by a mob, and stripped and beaten by the magistrates (Acts 16:19–24). Sitting there in the dark, their feet fastened into stocks and their bodies bloody and sore, what did they do?.......
They prayed and sang.
When Paul calls us to rejoice, he’s not telling us to “Be Happy.” Mere happiness is a surface feeling reserved for delightful circumstances, sunshine, and puppies. Happiness blows away at the first puff of a crosswind.
Joy, on the other hand, is a deep well made available by faith to the children of God. Joy is a gracious blessing from the Father, who calls His beloved children to follow Him through beauteous blessings and difficult providences, knowing that He is with them through it all, and He is leading them home.
Paul elsewhere urges believers to “not be slothful in zeal, [but] be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Rom. 12:11–12). This is not a random list of good ideas, but a collection of spiritual gifts which operate together: fervent zeal for Christ undergirds service, hope in Christ anchors our joy, regardless of our circumstances, which leads to patience in tribulation, in which we entrust ourselves and our loved ones to our Father by constant prayer.
Isn’t that just how Paul has been living as he has carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and dying world?
And isn’t this how our Lord Jesus lived? The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, endured the cross “for the joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2). Throughout His earthly life, and even now in heaven, our Savior was and is the perfect example of One who is zealous, fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, patient in all His tribulations, and constant in prayer.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Today’s Treasure verse, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1), is not the last time Paul will urge the Philippians to rejoice. Later he will write: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (4:4). As I’ve been typing out this devotional, a song by Andrew Peterson has been lilting through my head. It’s encouraging to me, and I hope it will be to you as well.
"Rejoice"
And when the winter is over The flowers climb through the snow The willows weep and the clover bloom Then all at once you hear a song That's stronger than the noise
Rejoice Rejoice
And when the peace turns to danger The nights are longer than days And every friend has a stranger's face Then deep within the dungeon cell You have to make a choice
Rejoice Rejoice Rejoice And again I say And again I say And again I say And again I say Rejoice
Be still and know that the Father Will hasten down from His throne He will rejoice over you with song
So set your face against the night And raise your broken voice Rejoice Rejoice Rejoice And again I say And again I say And again I say And again I say Rejoice
PRAYER
Father, whatever my circumstances now and in the future, help me to draw from Your deep well of joy, that I may raise my broken voice to You in prayer, and rejoice always. May I, by the help of Your Spirit, be zealous, fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, patient in all tribulations, and constant in prayer, to the glory of Your holy name.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barbaranne Kelly and her husband Jim are the parents of five of the neatest people they know, and now Barbaranne is the Grandmommy to THREE grand boys! In October that will change to FOUR! Barbaranne and Jim are members of Christ Presbyterian Church in New Braunfels, Texas, where she leads a Bible study for women in the hope that she and they may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge Enjoy and be inspired by more of Barbaranne’s writing at her blog.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Saturday, 13 May 2023.
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