I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Summary: Paul’s gladness puts all of our complaints in perspective when we consider that he is in chains while writing his letter.
To put this passage into context, we have to look back to the beginning of Paul’s paragraph. His thought begins with these words:
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing…” (Philippians 2:14).
Instead, he concludes, “be glad and rejoice with me.”
Okay.
How do we do that?
How do we go from a mindset that includes grumbling and arguing to one of gladness and rejoicing?
The answer Paul points us to is found in the words in between. Paul describes the path to rejoicing this way:
1. Become blameless and pure (Verse 15).
2. Hold firmly to the Word* of Life (Verse 16).
3. …Wait. There is no “3.”
Paul’s plan for us is simple. Become blameless and pure by holding firmly to the Word* of Life.
John’s Gospel account identifies Jesus as the Word (John 1:1-18), but as we noted in our meditation on the “Word of Life”†, there are other ways of looking at the phrase.
Throughout the Bible, there are references to the “word of the Lord” (Genesis 15:1). As we read through the Bible, this reference takes on a life of its own.
When Moses explains the blessings and the curses to the Israelites, he says, “…the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:14).
When Jesus walks the earth, he refers to the Word as a seed that is planted in our hearts (Mark 4:14).
The historian Luke, in his book “Acts of the Apostles,” writes that “the word of God continued to spread and flourish” (Acts 12:24).
This Word of Life has been preserved for us in the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17), a book we call the Bible.
By opening our hearts and minds to God’s Word, we absorb the Word of Life into our very being. It becomes part of us, and with God himself working in us, his Word transforms us, renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) into God’s image (Romans 8:29).
Application: Receive Jesus as your Lord, read the Bible every day, and meditate on it so that you can live it.
Food for Thought: How does Paul being able to rejoice while in chains (Phil 1:13) compare to the things we grumble about?
*We capitalize the “W” in “Word” out of respect for its reference to our Lord Jesus (John 1:1) and the Scriptures.
†See “Philippians 2:16a – The Word of Life”
How does Paul being able to rejoice while in chains (Phil 1:13) compare to the things we grumble about?
Every time someone put Paul in chains, God worked through him to God’s glory. To me that is so amazing to think about. I don’t believe Paul viewed his captivities as obstacles to furthering the Gospel, but as opportunities.
Comparatively, Paul lived in physical peril, but His heart and mind were free in Christ. I think no matter his circumstances, he believed God intended good. Most of us do not live in physical peril, our chains seem to be in our perspective. We tend to view resistance as an obstacle and want to give up. It is very difficult to rejoice if our perspective is that we have been defeated in some capacity.
Comparatively, I think we tend to grumble about what we think we are losing, Paul rejoiced at all provisions given to him through Christ.
Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Comparatively, Paul recognized that he was a slave to someone or something, either Christ or sin. I think we tend to grumble because in our minds we think we are masters, certainly modern societal thought reinforces this idea. The only real cure for this mindset is obedience.
Romans 6:16-18 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said. The difference between “obstacles” and “opportunities” is an important one for us to understand.
Great question. I am often convicted about the silly things I complain about when other believers (like Paul) are rejoicing while unjustly imprisoned. It puts things in perspective.
Acts 16: 22 – 25: The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
They were flogged, unjustly imprisoned, placed in painful stocks – and rejoicing. To me that says a lot about the sincerity and maturity of their faith.
Thank you, Rich!
If you will forgive the pun, I think you have pointed us to a truth worth taking “stock” in.
🙂
😎
Great question and Responses!!!
How does Paul being able to rejoice while in chains (Phil 1:13) compare to the things we grumble about?
We are all created by God as eternal, spiritual beings, confined in these temporary bodies of flesh for a very brief time, foreknown only by God,
By the power of Christ, Paul had chosen to turn FROM the teachings of this world, reject the powers of his flesh, “the lie all of us have been taught since childhood,” and serve only God as he received life in the power of the Holy Spirit who reveals TRUTH to all who will receive Him.
GALATIANS 5:1, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Ephesians 4:22-24, That, in reference to your former manner of life, lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul fully understood the true impact of the transformation he had experienced. We must also seek LIFE as this new creation of God. Begin each week by thanking God for one thing—even if it appears to be something small. Choose to rejoice on purpose when circumstances would tempt you to complain!
Children of God, must train themselves to ignore/reject the revelations of this world and focus on the revelations of the Spirit of truth who guides each of us into all truth. A strong spirit will reject the ways of this world, receive and prosper in the guidance of the Spirit,
Thank you, Ron!
“… lay aside the old self …”
That is not something that is easily done, yet it is essential to Christian living.