Friday, December 9, 2011
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
REJOICE IN THE ADVENT
In the locker room at half time, I remember my coach often saying when we were behind game after game, "Don't give up! Keep on going. The game isn't over." Regardless of the game's outcome, those words were important for me to hear. No matter what challenges I have faced in life, there isn't ever a reason to give up. There is always hope. There is always a reason to keep on going.
How much more true for the Christian! Paul reminded the Christians in Philippi despite their continuous setbacks and their poverty, "Don't give up! Keep going. The game isn't over." In fact, he said it much better than that: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" How do you imagine the Philippians responding? Did they say, "Are you crazy Paul? Look at what's going on here! What reason do we have to rejoice?"?
People say, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." But who am I kidding? When the going gets tough, I'd better get going to Christ! That's exactly what Paul encouraged during trials and tough times when he said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving" ... [Isn't that interesting? During tough trials?] ... "let your requests be made known to God." Paul gave reason to rejoice again and again! He rejoiced in the peace of God that comes only through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior from sin. "The Lord is at hand." What do we have to fear? Game over. Christ has won! All there is left to do is rejoice in His (our) victory!
