stephen R Harrison

(Read Philippians 3:1)

I don’t know about you, but I need multiple reminders for important dates. It terrifies me as a pastor at the possibility of being late for a wedding or funeral I am preaching. Thankfully, that has never happened, but I think about it each time I preach those. I set at least two reminders – the day before and early the morning before. I set reminders on my phone for birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates. I still use Post-it notes to remind me about things. Reminders are not bad; they help me remember the important stuff.

Paul begins the middle of his letter to the Philippians with a reminder: Rejoice in the Lord (3:1)!  He even qualifies his reminder with, “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”  In the 104 verses in Philippians, Paul uses the words “joy” and “rejoice” sixteen times.  One would think a letter from prison would be dark and dismal, but Paul’s joy didn’t stem from his circumstances.  He found his joy in Christ. 

Paul’s joy was in Jesus (3:1; 4:4), in gospel partnership (1:3-5; 2:2), future deliverance (1:10, 19; 3:20), and despite obstacles such as prison (1:13), opponents (1:17), the temptation to complain (2:14), and disunity (4:2). Paul believed the joy of Christ was bigger than any difficulty. With that said, he also knew the flesh could cause us to take our eyes off the joy that is Christ.  He knew the importance of reminding believers that joy comes from the Lord.  I heard an old pastor say, “Rejoice means remember where your joy comes from.”  How true!  We need constant reminders that our joy comes from Jesus. We also need to rejoice in Jesus constantly! What good is a reminder if it doesn’t call us to action?  

Paul said the reminder to rejoice was a safeguard for the Philippians. What was he safeguarding against?  Specifically, for them, it was persecution, complaining, and disunity.  They needed the reminder to rejoice for anything that could steal their joy.  We do, too. I’ve allowed many things to rob me of the joy of Jesus: bitterness, unforgiveness, offense, anger, pettiness, opinion, procrastination, and laziness.  So, what reminds us (safeguards) joy in Christ?  Reading the Word, praying, worship, fellowship, and many other disciplines are necessary to steady my focus on Christ.  Whatever it takes, we must remember to safeguard our Christian walk by rejoicing in the Lord!

Questions for the Head (Think)

• What constantly steals your joy?

Reflection for the Heart (Worship)

• What safeguards of Christian discipline mentioned above need to be improved in your life?  Spend some time in that discipline as you worship and rejoice.

Action for the Hands (Do)

• Take time this week to meet with another believer for accountability in your Christian walk.  Share your struggles with losing and safeguarding your joy. Pray for one another and set periodic reminders to help each other rejoice.