Philippians 3:1– Rejoice!

For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To be writing the same to you is not, indeed irksome for me, yet it is your security.

The ‘rejoice!’ we come across many times in this letter. Paul more or less apologizes for the repetition, but argues in his defense that it is not a nuisance to himself to point this out and it is safe for his readers. No frame of mind is more suited to God’s good report than joy. By generating joy, the Gospel proves exactly what it pretends to be.

Paul wrote this letter as a prisoner (1:13) and it goes without saying that this in itself is not a circumstance in which a man rejoices. All the more remarkable that there is no letter in the entire NT in which so much joy is expressed as in this letter. However, not joy in the circumstances, but “in the Lord”. That typifies the atmosphere and the motif.

The fact that there is One who manages and controls everything is a constant source of joy. Then you may be imprisoned, but you know: everything is one hundred percent under control . And: GOD’S way is the best! Because He is Lord!

Delen: