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Devotions based on week 10 of Joy in the Journey: Joy (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Me: Always? Wait, you mean…always?

God: Yep.  Always.

Me: But how?

  How can I always have joy and rejoice?

Don’t you know life gets hard?

Don’t you understand the difficult situation I am in?

Don’t you know the loss I just experienced?

God: Yes. Yes, I do.

Me: But how?  How am I supposed to rejoice ALWAYS?  That seems really tough and to be honest a bit unrealistic.

God: Perhaps. If you are equating joy and happiness, you are missing the point.  Happiness is what you feel when external circumstances are good and your experiences are wonderful.  Happiness comes when you get a raise after showing great skill at your job.  Happiness is passing a test or enjoying a great evening with your spouse.

Me: So is happiness wrong?

God: No, not at all.  In fact, I created this world for you to enjoy and I want you to experience the emotion of happiness.  But happiness doesn’t last and I too admit it’s hard to be happy in all circumstances.

Me: I agree!

God: But I do want you to have joy at all times.

Me: So what is joy?

God: Joy is a gift I give you when you rest in my unchanging promises, my eternal Word and my grace that I have shown to you.  Notice what I inspired Paul to write, “Rejoice IN THE LORD always.”  I didn’t say rejoice in a circumstance, I said, “Rejoice in the LORD!”

Me: So you are saying joy is more than an emotion?

God: Yes, it is more a state of being that settles deep in your soul by my Spirit so that no matter what the external circumstance, you have authentic joy rooted in me and my love for you.

Me: So when life gets hard or I experience loss or am in a difficult situation, you still want me to have joy.

God: That’s right.

Me: And you want me to find joy by remembering that even in a difficult situation you are with me?

God: Exactly.

Me: And if I experience loss, I have not lost your forgiveness and love and grace?

God: Now you are understanding.

Me: And no matter what circumstances are around me and the emotions they create I have a settled heart knowing that your love for me never changes?

God: Exactly!

Me: And that’s what leads me to rejoice?

God: YES!

Me: Always.

God: Yes, always. Can I say it again?  Rejoice!

 

Apply: What is the situation you are facing this morning?  How can the dialogue of this devotion change your perspective to find reasons to rejoice today (and always!)?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me your constant love and grace so that I ALWAYS have a reason to rejoice, no matter what the surrounding circumstances.  AMEN.

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Peace comes when we focus on the reality that unifies us.

Even as Christians we can focus on the differences that divide us.  Yes, there are differences when the truth of God’s Word has to be spoken with clarity and truth, even when it is not accepted.

But there are often issues around Gospel ministry that bring division for things that are not defined by God’s Word, but Satan uses it to cause divide between people.  Music style, ministry leadership, paint color, financial focus and more can all create a lack of unity in a Christian congregation.

So how can we avoid being part of this?

Remember the same truth that Paul did when encouraging Euodia and Syntyche: Their names are written in the book of life…along with all his fellow Gospel workers. 

“Whose names are in the book of life.”

One of the greatest blessings we share in Christ is that our name is written in the Lord’s book of life, assuring us we have an eternity with the Lord. 

Remember of your brothers and sisters who have Jesus as their Savior: You are going to spend eternity with them.

Do you want to take the disagreement with you to the grave?

Do you want Satan to use the disagreement to prevent you from enjoying a relationship Christ created?

Do you want the Gospel to be impeded because you are unwilling to work to resolve a disagreement?

We are going to spend eternity together…let’s enjoy those relationships now!

Paul doesn’t express frustration, but passion for all those in the Philippian congregation to find unity and the peace it brings.  

He doesn’t encourage ignoring it or dismissing or trying to superficially resolve the problem, but rather put start with the unity and destiny we share in Christ.

We all have received forgiveness and grace in Christ.

We all have an eternity in heaven to look forward to.

We all share a common purpose in Christ and the mission of the Gospel.

So I plead with you, to get along with your fellow church members, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Take time to understand.

Take time to have a conversation.

Take time to find a path forward.

Why?

Satan would love to use your difference to cause division.

Satan would love to use your difference to discredit the Gospel.

Satan would love to use your difference to dismiss a relationship.

So don’t let Satan win.

The power of the Gospel unites us.

The reality of forgiveness is common to all of us.

The future of heaven is our eternity together.

So let’s make a commitment to our Savior and church family to do as Paul encouraged the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Apply: Are you in a disagreement with someone at your church?  What step can you do to resolve that difference?  Do you know someone in disagreement? How can you be used to help two others settle a disagreement?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the unity you build by your Spirit.  Lead us to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. AMEN.

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Sometimes peace needs helpers!

Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

Whatever was happening with Euodia and Syntyche, Paul had an earnest desire to have them come into agreement.  If he was there, no doubt he would have done what it took to bring the two ladies together and help them come to a resolution of the issue.  He wasn’t there, so he calls on others in the congregation to help these ladies.

“I ask you, loyal yokefellow…”

We don’t know who it is, but someone probably who received the letter or was a main connection point between Paul and the congregation.

Again, the Spirit has his reasons.

Perhaps the reason the “yokefellow” isn’t named is so each one of us can see ourselves in this situation.  When we have a deep connection to the Gospel and a deep love for the cause of the Gospel, we will step into help those that are struggling to agree to bring alignment to the ministry of the Gospel.

Part of being a member of the body of Christ and a local congregation is working together with others for the sake of the Gospel.  It’s easy to find reasons to disagree.  It takes effort to continue to move forward with a unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace.

But the advancement of the Gospel depends on it.

And sometimes the Gospel calls us to get into the mess to help resolve differences.

Why?

Why would Paul ask a “loyal yokefellow” to step in and help these women?

Consider these possibilities:

1. Paul is not present.  He cares about the situation and knows it won’t be resolved without intervention.
2. An outside person is able to carry an objective perspective.  If you are one in disagreement with another, someone to listen and provide unbiased input can be valuable.
3. Another person has different gifts to offer an agreeable solution.
4. A brother or sister may have a stronger spiritual maturity to step in and navigate a tricky relationship issue.
5. The two in conflict trust this person and will value and apply their input.

God puts us together in community with other believers to help one another out.  We’d like to say, “it’s not my problem.”  Paul could have said that as he was miles away imprisoned in Rome.  Why would a disagreement between two ladies cause him concern.

Because he knew every disagreement, discord and issue that broke the unity of Spirit and the bond of peace would eventually impede the spread of the Gospel.

And the last thing he wanted to see was Satan hinder the power of the Gospel by creating division in the church.

So he calls on his “fellow yokefellow” to help.

God calls on you to help.

Unity in God’s church is all of our responsibilities to work at and seek to bring.  We may wish to “stay out of it” but God may have you where you are for the very reason he wants you to get involved in it so unity is restored and the Gospel ministry is preserved.

It’s a privilege.  Embrace it as a “fellow yokefellow’!

 

Apply: Are you “staying out of” a situation where perhaps God is calling you to help settle a disagreement?  Prayerfully consider how you can be an active part of the situation!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for putting me in a Christian congregation to be part of building and maintaining unity and peace around your word and work.  When there is a need for a “fellow yokefellow” to get involved, lead me to say, “Here am I, send me!”

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 

Can’t we all get along?

Most people don’t like conflict, but we often find ourselves in the middle of it.

It happens for legit reasons and sometimes we don’t even know why.

It happens in our workplaces, our homes and even in the church.

We have different opinions.

We have different ministry ideas.

We have different priorities.

We have different understandings of God’s Word of truth.

While differences can be very healthy and good, when differences become divisive between people, the difference matters.

Difference divides people.

Differences detract from ministry.

Differences take time to resolve.

So Paul says, “I plead…”

We don’t know what was happening between Euodia and Syntyche, but the Spirit probably chose to leave it vague to allow us to apply it to every disagreement we have between people in the family of God.

Take time to resolve it!

When there is a difference of opinions, let go of judgment and embrace curiosity to understand the opinion of the other person.  You may have more in common than you do difference.  You may realize you want the same thing, but just have stated it differently.

When there is a difference of ministry ideas, perhaps the opportunity is to ask the question together, “What is best for the advancement of the Gospel?”  Sometimes our personal preferences and ideas are held onto with too much vigor at the detriment of what is best for the ministry of the Gospel.

When there is a difference in priorities or ways of doing things, often just a conversation enables open sharing and engaging a meaningful discussion to get on the same page.

When there is a disagreement on some doctrinal matter based on Scripture, it is important to sit down with the Word of God and let the Word settle the question.  Engaging another Christian leader or pastor may be helpful to settle the matter.  All having a humility before the Word is important to allow the Word to settle the disagreement.

Agreement comes “in the Lord.”

When we let go of personal pride, arrogance, hurt and disappointment we can allow the Lord’s truth, forgiveness and grace to restore relationships.

And when we agree “in the Lord” the agreement is well founded and the work of the Gospel can move forward.

 

Apply: Do you have a disagreement with someone within your church?  Paul pleads with you to agree with them in the Lord!  What is one step you can do before you see them again to begin to resolve the disagreement?

Prayer: Lord, forgive my pride, arrogance or whatever else Satan is using to cause disagreement between me and a brother or sister in Christ.  Let your grace, humility and love be foundational to work to resolve the disagreement and restore unity between us.  AMEN.

Devotions based on week 9 of Joy in the Journey: Peace (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 

When you care deeply about a person, you don’t want to lose the relationship with that person.

To be sure, there are many things that can work to separate people and cause division between them, however, Paul encourages the most important thing that binds Christians together: stand firm in the Lord.

But it’s not an empty encouragement.

If you are going to stand firm, you want to make sure you have something solid on which to stand.

What precedes in chapter three forms the basis of Paul’s encouragement:

“That is how you should stand firm.”

So what is “that”?

Three things:

First – consider all things less important than knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:8 But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ…

Second, prioritize and put forward every effort to take hold of all that for which Christ has taken hold of you:

Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet, but there is one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

And third, remember your citizenship is in heaven.

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. We are eagerly waiting for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 By the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body.

The last thing Paul wanted to see happen is one of those he deeply cared about be lost from their connection with Christ.  He knew that Satan would be working hard to separate them from the love of Christ.

So he gives that direction to do all he can to avoid losing those he deeply cares about.

The same is true for us.

Are you looking for what it takes and what it means to stand firm in the Lord?  Do you want those around you who you deeply love and care about to do the same?

These three things are true for us.

Prioritize Christ in every aspect of your life.

Be willing to make every effort to reach the goal of heaven and enjoy God’s blessings along the way.

Keep your heart and mind focused heavenward, your citizenship is in heaven.

That is how you will stand firm in the Lord!

 

Apply: Which of the three areas listed is an opportunity for you?  How might you, with the Lord’s help improve that area and strengthen your stand with the Lord?  Take time to reach out to someone you care about and encourage them to stand firm in the Lord – use one or more of the three encouragements.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us friends who care deeply and encourage and guide us in standing firm in our relationship to you.  Keep away from us all temptations that would divide and distract us from our connection with you.  AMEN.