Philippians 4:4, 5
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. NIV.
The Passion Translation says: Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!
To rejoice/to be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. People rejoice when they get a new car, a new job, salary, new clothes, a new house or pass their exams. Is this the kind of rejoicing that Paul is calling for?
Maybe not really! Read the verse again: Rejoice in…… WHAT? Not in your new job, success, or new gadgets… but in the Lord. Amen…
Rejoice in the Lord… when? –ALWAYS~~ in Church/on holidays/? No, it’s not only in the good times/prosperous/healthy/ seasons but always. When you are sick/ meet failures/disappointments…… you rejoice in WHOM? In the LORD.
Remember the man who is writing this verse? He is Apostle Paul in Prison at Rome. Was he in prison for stealing/killing people? No, it was for the sake of the Gospel of Christ~~ He is not even complaining or asking for prayer~~
He is calling the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in every season of their life, WHY? Because of what Christ has promised for all who believe in Him (Phil. 3:20, 21).
Read Phil. 3:20, 21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
~ Citizenship is in heaven—
Who has made this possible? Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel.
So, I will say it one more time, Rejoice!
Verse 5 says
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Let your gentleness/humility be known to everyone. Many people can be gentle towards their loved ones. They can be humble towards their superior/the rich. It’s so easy, is it not?
We can love someone who love us back. We can be gentle towards who are considerate and gracious. But this verse calls for more than that? Show your graciousness, gentleness, humility to…WHO? Everyone. What about to your unloving neighbor or friend? One who makes fun of you or dislike you? This verse says, “Everyone”
Paul then ends by saying … The Lord is near. In other words, we act patiently towards others/ we humble ourselves towards someone inferior to us because the Lord is coming Soon! Either He comes/ or you go.
So finally, our reason for rejoicing is the Lord. Our reason for humility/patience/gentleness is the Lord. He will judge/reward us for what we do while we are here on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Prayer: May God help us to rejoice in the Lord always. Not to only rejoice in our citizenship in heaven through Jesus Christ but to live our lives in humility, patience and gentleness towards everyone so that we will be rewarded on the Day the Lord comes back. In Jesus name, amen.
