Philippians 4:4-9ਨਮੂਨਾ

Rejoice

Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote the words in Philippians 4. They are part of his final encouragement to his Christian friends in Philippi.

The Philippian church was made up of a diverse group of people who had come to faith – Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and some Jews. Paul’s message is filled with a desire for them to stay united and humble.

I often read the Bible as if it is just written to me as an individual believer. That is helpful; however, most of the Bible is written to a group of people, in this case a church. When we read these letters as if they are written to our own church, they take on a new meaning. Paul knew that what holds people together in Christian faith is a focus on Jesus. No matter how hard circumstances are, we have reason to rejoice IN Jesus together. It’s not a pie in the sky when you die – a happy, clappy kind of rejoicing. It’s the joy of knowing that together we are loved by the One who created life itself.

When my husband and I passed on the church we had planted and pastored for 25 years, all I wanted was for those dear people to know they are loved by God. I wanted, as Paul did for them, to press into the joy of experiencing that unfailing love of God. I knew that’s all they would need to live out a life of faith and kindness knowing the Lord is near.

As we gather with other believers, no matter what the circumstances are, let’s choose to rejoice in the God who loves us all.

Written by KATH HENRY