We read of how the Lord led the people of Israel from out of Egypt to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. But after some years, they ended up in Babylon. After some years,they returned to Jerusalem and built the temple under the leadership of Ezra. But the walls of the city were ruined. But the people were afraid to rebuild them, thinking it would be rebellion to the king who bought the walls down.So Ezra reminded the people of Israel of the laws of the Lord and encouraged them with words like “The joy of the Lord is my strength” and “The strength of the Lord is my fortress”. This was in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we see in Philippians 3:13,14 “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This is what Paul says at the end of his life from a jail cell in Rome. In Chapter 2:5, we see the purpose with which Paul wrote this letter. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” In Philippians 4:4 we see how Paul reminds the brethren to rejoice in the Lord always. He reminds them again and again. There were times of sadness for the Philippians but Paul reminds them over and over to rejoice always in the Lord.
Jesus doesn’t want us to live with just a little joy, but with the fullness of joy
What are the things that bring happiness in my life? Is it when things go my way? Is it when people praise me? But Paul says, even in jail, that his joy is in the Lord. We have to remember that if it is material things that give us joy, these material things will eventually pass away. Only the joy that is found in the Lord will remain. Paul had learnt this truth. Paul left all his material possessions for the Lord because he experienced the joy that is found in the Lord. We shouldn’t find joy in our circumstances or situations but find our joy in the Lord. Philippians 2:5-8, Paul explains the attitude of the Lord – taking the form of a servant and being obedient even unto death. In John 15:11 Jesus speaks of his joy. This was spoken before he was crucified. It was this joy that led him through all his 33 and half years. Jesus wants our joy also to be full. In v21, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will testify of the things Jesus spoke. In chapters 16 also Jesus speaks of this joy. Jesus doesn’t want us to live with just a little joy, but with the fullness of joy. John 17:13 also speaks of this joy. He wants us to live with the joy that he had. If we look into our lives, we may see that most of the time we speak of our troubles, sorrows and difficulties. But Jesus wants us to live with His fullness of joy.“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) Paul was confident that the joy that the Lord gave in His life can be bought to fullness by God’s help. Paul wasn’t burdened by his situation of being in the jail but took the attitude of Jesus and rejoiced always in the Lord. Paul forgot all that was behind, but looking forward he ran with joy towards the crown that God had prepared for him. Let us also find our joy in the Lord and not in material gains. Let us not think we are perfect but press on to perfection.
Paul says that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul didn’t fear death. He lived for the Lord and was happy to die and be with him. Let us forget the old memories that give us regret and which make us lose our joy and let us submit ourselves to the working of the Lord in our lives. God’s ultimate plan for us is to set our mind on things above and not on things of this world. The psalmist says in Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” May the Lord help us so that our ways also bring delight to the Lord. Paul says in Phil 4:11 how he has learnt to be content in all situations. In v13 Paul says he can do all things through Christ. This was Paul’s testimony. What is our testimony? Let us examine ourselves. Unless we make ourselves dead to sin, we cannot find this joy in the Lord. In Luke 15:7 we see that a repentant sinner is what brings joy to heaven. Jesus explains this through the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin.
Let us put a step forward towards this joy. Let us encourage ourselves to have this attitude of Jesus and follow Paul as he followed the Lord. Only if we have the joy of the Lord in ourselves can we lead another person to this joy. Let us run the race towards this goal. May God bless us all.
