[This advent discussion can be read aloud in 4 min.]
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 54
Family Discussions for Advent
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DAY 54/MONDAY
Philippians 4:4
Jesus’ Joy in Us
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
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We’re continuing to follow along with the weekly themes of Christmas Advent — hope, peace, joy, love, & Christ — in light of our Philippians focus verses this month.
May our families shine like stars as we hold firmly to the word of life this Christmas celebration season!
Advent: Joy
“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. 10If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:9-11 (NIV)
In John 15, Jesus is speaking to His closest disciples, “the Twelve,” minus Judas (who had left them to go betray Christ to those who wanted to kill Him). Let’s use some Q & A to dig in to these verses.
Q & A
Q: In v.11, Jesus says, “I have told you this…” What is the “this” He had just told them?
A: He had just told them v.9-10: “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved You. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.”
Q: According to v.9, how had Jesus loved His disciples?
A: “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved You.”
Q: What did Jesus command His disciples to do in v.9?
A: “Now remain in My love.”
Q: How were the disciples supposed to remain in His love?
A: By keeping Jesus’ commands: “If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love” (v.10).
Q: In v.11, why does Jesus say He has told the disciples this?
A: “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Q: How may the joy of Jesus be in us?
A: Remaining in His love by keeping His commands
Q: Our joy may be complete how?
A: Remaining in His love by keeping His commands
What Jesus Commands
In the next verse, Jesus tells us what He commands.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 (NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I do want Jesus’ joy to be in me. I also want Him to make my joy complete, even though I’m not sure I completely understand what that means!
But what does it mean to love each other as He has loved us?
*The best way to know what it means to love each other as Jesus has loved us is to read the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, and become super familiar with them.
Here’s one thought: Putting the Father’s will ahead of our own. In other words, doing what God wants us to do no matter what it costs us, without: whining or grumbling about not getting what we want; talking about what is or isn’t “fair;” demanding our “rights” or what we think we deserve.
Let’s take a step back. Jesus said we will have His joy in us and made complete if we keep His commands. Do we believe we can have joy if we’re not getting what we want, not being treated fairly, and not getting rewarded with what we deserve?
When we’re thinking along these lines, we may need a couple of little reminders from Romans:
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
We deserve…
- death;
- separation from God;
- His wrath poured out on us;
- eternal punishment for each & every sin.
Jesus offers us:
- life;
- close, inseparable relationship with God as His adopted child;
- His blessings poured out on us (some earthly & temporary, many heavenly & eternal);
- eternal forgiveness in Christ for each & every sin, past, present, & future.
Why would we & how could we not have joy in Christ?!? It should be an easy decision to obey anyone who’s offering us all He does! Let’s pray.
DAY 54/MONDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word.
We praise You for all we have through Jesus that is a cause for great, great joy: life instead of death; relationship with You instead of separation; Your blessings poured out on us rather than Your wrath; eternal forgiveness for all of our sins.
May we keep these things fresh in our minds this Christmas season. Let us live each day with Jesus’ joy shining out through our words, our actions, and our whole beings!
In His precious name we pray,
Amen.
DAY 54: Paul tells the Philippian Christians to "rejoice in the Lord always." Jesus wants His joy to be in us.