Preaching on Philippians is a joy for me as well as I hope and pray for the church that I serve, Redentor Church. Reading Paul’s love for the church at Philippi I can see God’s love radiate through the joy that is in Paul’s heart for this church. Paul sees that this church is becoming mature, becoming more loving, more caring, more compassionate through knowing Christ more.
For us in the church this should serve as a teaching moment. We should see this “love, joy, humble” relationship as a blueprint for us in the Body of Christ. It should be for us, a “spiritual workout” to gain more knowledge of God through His Son Jesus, then to know Him better, then ultimately, to see the “good work” started by God brought to completion, “…at the day of Jesus Christ”. (Philippians 1:6)
The church has many obstacles to overcome in this quest to be a joy filled church like the one at Philippi, but we can never let this thinking allow us to stop our journey to joy in Jesus Christ. Our joy begins and ends in the love and grace of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Every obstacle will be overcome through the power of our Savior, after all He has done it all already, right?