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Daily Devotions

Philippians

Philippians 
Day 
Day 56

"Rejoice in the Lord..."

Text: Philippians 3:1

REJOICING IN THE LORD

The apostle Paul experienced a deep sense of joy both in life and ministry. This sense of joy was well communicated in all his epistles and not just in Philippians. He sought to encourage the brethren in Philippi to have the same spirit of joy, no matter how hard the circumstances of life may be.

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.
For me to write the same things to you is not tedious,
but for you it is safe.”

Philippians 3:1

1. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”

The significance of the word “finally” in this context is interesting to note:

a) The conclusion of the considerations Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:19.
b) He thought about three things and decided that he would send Epaphroditus back to the church in Philippi
c) It does not signal the conclusion of the epistle he was writing.

2. “Rejoice in the Lord”

a) There was every reason to rejoice in the Lord.
b) There was joy even though he would miss the company of Epaphroditus.
c) This exhortation to constantly rejoice in the Lord was very much in Paul’s mind as he wrote. (This is strongly indicated in the use of the “present tense” in the verb “rejoice” {Greek “chairete”}.)
d) This was Paul’s way of encouraging the practice of rejoicing in the Lord.

AN IMPORTANT CHANGE NOTED

Paul went on to disclose another reason for writing this epistle.

1. “For me to write the same things to you is not tedious”

a) The word “tedious” would suggest that he had written on this subject before.
b) It was not “troublesome” to write to the churches on things that are of great importance.
c) This signals an introduction to a new subject that he would address shortly.

2. “But for you it is safe”

a) What Paul was going to write would result in safety for the Philippians.
b) There was danger afoot and this had to be highlighted.
c) The realm of “safety”-
i) In the spiritual realm.
ii) There was danger that threatened the Church.
iii) Protection of the church was of high priority in Paul’s mind and heart.