Paul writes to the Philippian Church that they are to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Not sometimes, not just when you feel like it, not when everything’s “going your way” — always.
[Read aloud in 9 min.]
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 55
Family Discussions for Advent
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DAY 55/THURSDAY
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord… Always
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
*Click here to read the ESV, NLT, & NIrV.
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
Paul writes to the Philippian Church that they are to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Not sometimes, not just when you feel like it, not when everything’s “going your way,” — always. This is certainly easier said than done, even at Christmastime. I admit I tend to see more joy coming from people during this season, but seasonal stresses can also become joy-stealers. Let’s read some Scriptures about joy from James (brother of Jesus), Peter, and Paul.
Pure Joy
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
James wants Christians to consider facing “trials of many kinds” as “pure joy.” Nobody does this naturally! It goes completely against human nature to count trials as joy. James doesn’t leave us scratching our heads in wonder — he tells us why:
“…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:3-4 (NIV)
- Trials of many kinds test our faith.
- The testing of our faith produces perseverance.
- Perseverance works our lives into maturity & completeness.
- When we are mature & complete, we don’t lack anything.
Ever experience FOMO, the “fear of missing out”? Our human instinct is that trials cause us to miss out on the best things life has to offer. According to James, this is false! Trials are a way to gain in this life and in preparation for eternity. Let me say it again (to myself as much as to anyone else!): Trials are a way to gain in this life and in preparation for eternity. Peter adds to this line of thinking about the gains of trials in his letter.
In All This You Greatly Rejoice
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
I Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)
Reread v.6:
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
I Peter 1:6 (NIV)
Peter does not deny that all kinds of trials can cause one to suffer grief; however, like James, he highlights what is gained from the suffering:
“These (trials) have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
I Peter 1:7 (NIV)
- Trials prove whether faith is genuine or not.
- When faith is proven to be genuine, the result will be praise, glory, & honor when Jesus returns!
- Peter says proven genuineness of faith is of greater worth than gold because genuine faith will never perish (rot or decay; be ruined or destroyed; die).
*Oxford Languages via Google
Inexpressible, Glorious Joy
Since Peter packs so much information into these few verses, let’s do some Q & A.
Q & A
Q: In God’s great mercy, He has given us new birth into what? (v.3-4)
A: “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade”
Q: Where is this inheritance kept, and for whom? (v.4-5)
A: “This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Q: In all of what do the believers to whom Peter is writing greatly rejoice? (v.6)
A: All of the above! New birth through Christ into a living hope & an eternal inheritance
Q: When & how long may believers have “to suffer grief in all kinds of trials”? (v.6)
A: “Now for a little while”
Q: The Christians to whom Peter is writing love Jesus even though they haven’t what? (v.8)
A: They haven’t seen Him.
Q: They also believe in Him, even though what? (v.8)
A: They still don’t see Him.
Q: With what are these believers filled? (v.8)
A: “an inexpressible and glorious joy”
Q: Why are they filled with this great joy? (v.8)
A: They are receiving the end result of their faith.
Q: What is the end result of their faith (& ours)? (v.8)
A: The salvation of their souls!
This leads me to Paul’s words to the Colossian Christians.
Giving Joyful Thanks
“…and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:12-14 (NIV)
If you are a Christian, the end goal of your faith is the salvation of your very soul! Your soul = the real you. The truest part of you — the eternal part. We have every reason to continuously give joyful thanks to our Father God!
God the Father has:
- qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light;
- rescued us from the dominion of darkness;
- brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Hallelujah!!! Amen & amen.
To Christians in Thessalonica, Paul writes,
“Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
I had these verses taped to the door of my childhood bedroom because my tendency as a tween, then as a teen, was to wallow in my imperfections and all the imperfections of my life, as if my trials were causing me to miss out on the good stuff.
The truth? The opposite was true! My imperfections and the trials I went through pointed me to Jesus and drew me closer to God. It’s still true, for me and for you. It doesn’t always feel true — but feelings are not reliable witnesses.
- James says: Consider trials pure joy because they will not lead to lack but to having everything.
- Peter says: We can greatly rejoice though we suffer grief & be filled with an inexpressible, glorious joy because our souls are being saved.
- Paul says: It is God’s will for us to give thanks in all circumstances, pray continually, & rejoice always.
At Christmastime, we are to celebrate the truth that God sent His one & only Son to earth to save our souls.
Worth Your Soul
Jesus said,
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37Is anything worth more than your soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:36-38 (NLT)
*To read Mark 8:36-38 in the NIV, ESV, NLT, & NIrV, click here.
When we go through trials in life, we are usually losing some earthly, worldly good or benefit or advantage or comfort. What’s the last thing you stressed out about, the last thing that “stole” your joy? Sickness? Lack or loss of money? Car trouble? Broken relationship? Bad grades? Job loss? Physical injury? Change of plans? Abuse? Offense? Misunderstandings? Accusations? Bullying? Harassment? Death of a loved one? Consequences of past decisions? Fallout from circumstances that are not your fault? Difficulty upon difficulty?
All of these losses, though different, are painful. They can lead us to feel like nothing good can possibly be gained in our situation. Yet, Jesus says, even if we gained the whole world — every good the world has to offer, if the best day ever of the best life ever was ours — it would not be worth anything. “Is anything worth more than your soul?”
No matter our circumstances, we can be full of the “inexpressible and glorious joy” of knowing Jesus and knowing that He has saved our souls.
DAY 55/THURSDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word.
You have saved our souls! May this knowledge fill us with “inexpressible and glorious joy” on even our darkest days here in this dark world. Let our joy in Jesus shine brightly for all to see!
Considering trials as pure joy does not come easily or naturally for us. Even for those of us who have experienced great blessings in walking through hard things with You, it is still so difficult to face each new trial with joy. Remind us daily of all we have to be thankful for: eternal inheritance; being rescued from darkness; being brought into Jesus’ kingdom of light; our redemption & the forgiveness of our sins in Christ; the salvation of our souls.
We love & thank You, Father, for all this & more.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray,
Amen.
DAY 55: Paul writes to the Philippian Church that they are to "rejoice in the Lord always." Not sometimes, not just when you feel like it, not when everything's "going your way," -- always.