This fall my church has been working through a sermon series called "injoy" as we study of the book of Philippians. Throughout the letter to the church we see Paul expressing gratitude over and over, despite being imprisoned and unable to do the ministry he longs to do. Paul describes many ways we can experience joy in our lives as we follow Jesus.
Last week we studied 4.4-7 and in this familiar passage we read a simple call: "Rejoice in the Lord always." I found myself thinking about all the ways I rejoice in my life and the things that cause me to do so. What does that look like to rejoice always? In all circumstances, we can rejoice - through Christ who gives us the strength to do so (v 13). We can't rejoice when we are anxious. I think the two are mutually exclusive- like serving God and money (matthew 6.24) or desiring approval from both man and God (galatians 1.10). When I was a kid I would read sentences and practice putting the emphasis on each word of the sentence. I ran up the stairs. I ran up the stairs. I ran up the stairs. Etc. I think I was a little OCD. But I found myself doing this on Sunday with this phrase "Rejoice in the Lord always." Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice in the Lord always. I kept repeating these lines, and this "in the Lord" part of the command just kept jumping out at me. I actually rejoice quite a bit in my life, but in the Lord? I take delight in quite a few things... but in the Lord do I delight? I guess it goes back to gratitude, that in all things we really can rejoice, and we see such a great picture of that in Paul's life, especially in Philippians.
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Amy WellnerEncouraging others to intentionally live out their God-given identity. Archives
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