Day 2 - Week 60 - Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."

This is one of those verses that I want to read in several translations to see if I can gather insight from different word usage....

NIV - Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
English Standard Version - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Good News Translation - Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
New Living Translation - Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
and finally, The Message - Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

I love seeing the "full picture" of a verse through several translations...I don't know if it helps you, but it really does help me "get it"!  Don't you see a lot more to Philippians 4:5 than you did when you read just the Holman Christian Standard version?  In the Greek, the actual word that is translated as graciousness, gentleness, reasonableness, gentle attitude, considerate, and "on their side" (love that, don't you?) is epiekes and carries with it the idea of seemingly, suitable, equitable, fair, mild, gentle.  All the translations are accurate, just looking at the word from a little different angle. 

Since our subject matter is still joy, God's kind of happiness, which of the translations evokes in you an attitude that will most likely produce joy within you?  When you read through them, and picture yourself reflecting the directed behavior in your life, which verse gives you something that you feel that if you really lived that out, you would be more joyful? 

Is it seeing yourself as being gentle in your responses to others?  Is it picturing yourself as just a totally reasonable person - able to weigh all situations with proper priority?  Does the idea of yourself being viewed by others as sincerely considerate make you smile?  Or do you, like me, love the picture of being the kind of person that is always, automatically, an advocate of people...letting them know that you're on their side, encouraging them, not tearing them down.  Maybe because I realize that I am not always that kind of person that the idea of being more like that is so appealing to me.

Whatever translation hits home with you, take the verse to heart.  The point of the first sentence of this verse, to me, is to be enough of "that kind of person" that it is part of your reputation.  That people talk about you in that regard...whether they use the adjective of gentle, reasonable, considerate, or "what an encourager"...that you are known for displaying the attitude of Jesus.  An attitude that is unmistakably loving and...you guessed it...joyful. 

Day 1 - Week 60 - Third Joyful Verse!

So far we've been reminded that every day is reason for joy because every day is a day that God has made for us and that no matter what our current circumstance, we can rejoice in the Lord always, because we know that His love is always at the center of His will for us.

So we're now ready to add our third verse of joy.  But before we do....well surely you know the routine by now!

Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."

The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy:God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4  "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!"

This week's verse will continue in Philippians 4, as will the next two verses after it.  So we will actually memorize Philippins 4:4-7.  These verses give us practical steps to developing a lifestyle that will promote joy in our lives.  Verse 4 teaches us to acknowledge that our lives are grounded in the love of God, and when we do that we can truly rejoice.  Let's now look at Philippians 4:5, this week's verse:

Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near."

There are two great aspects of this verse --- the directive to be gracious to others, and the reminder that God is always with us.  These two directives can both promote an attitude of joy within us.  We'll dig in and come to a fuller understanding and a deeper appreciation of this verse throughout the coming week. 

Asking for prayers tonight for multiple family members with health concerns.  When people you love are faced with uncertainty as to their physical well-being, you naturally pray for them to be delivered and healed.  And I am praying that steadfastly and earnestly.  Praying that God will be glorified through stories of wonderful healing.  But I have learned to couple that prayer with the deeper prayer that asks for my ability to trust God no matter what His plan is, to know that He is working all things together for good --- even when my earthly vision is limited to seeing "good" in only my way.  That's when I have to ask for "reborn eyes" that can see glimpses of the eternal view of God.  Trusting Him, hand-in-hand with pleading for good and full health for all those I love and for those in your families who may also need the touch of God's healing hands.

 

Day 4 - Week 59 - Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

How was your attitude today?  I have to admit, mine was less than great!  I found myself frustrated, annoyed and irritable.  And mostly the target of those emotions was...me!  I was frustrated that I wasn't able to accomplish all that I set out to, annoyed at my forgetfulness and lack of organization in some areas, and irritated at my impatience with myself, as well as with others.

At the end of the day I have to stop and ask myself...how much time today did I spend rejoicing?  And then our verse hits me smack dab in the middle of my face saying, "the goals is....ALWAYS!"  Even when I'm not verbally stating my joy or my cause for being joy-filled, I should be exhibiting an attitude of joy, an attitude of contentment, an attitude that reflects my knowledge that I am loved by the King, esteemed as a friend by His Son, and empowered by His Spirit living within me. 

At the end of the day, I have to say I didn't do that well today --- and I have to apologize to God the Spirit for not allowing Him to reign over me, to overpower my human emotions of frustration, annoyance and irritability, with His supernatural gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

At the end of the day, I pray that when I wake in the morning the first words off of my lips will be words of joy --- words conveying to my Lord the thrill that He brings to me with the first ray of His beautiful sunlight; words that express my wonder of a new day of life that He has seen fit to give me; words that turn back to Him my amazement at the gifts that He has given to me in the form of a wonderful husband, beautiful children and grandchildren, a God-fearing, loving Mother, and family and friends who surround me with love.

At the end of the day - I am rejoicing.  Thank You Lord for your grace and mercy that allows me to close today with joy, and to start again tomorrow in Your amazing, cause-for-rejoicing, inexplicable, love for me. 

Hymn of Joy - Henry Van Dyke

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Praising Thee their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Centre of unbroken praise:
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Blooming meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Day 3 - Week 59 - Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

"The joy Christ gives is for time and eternity, for soul and body, for adversity and prosperity."  - William A. Swets

This is the "always" that Paul refers to...Christ's joy is an always kind of thing.  As Christians, we have it now - we will enjoy it for eternity.  Our souls rejoice, as do our temporal bodies.  We can rejoice in good times, and we can praise God in thankfulness even in the bad times, because we know He knows, and we know His promises of faithfulness.  We can thank Him for trials, knowing that He is working good things inside of us, producing character within us that we would not be able to have in lives of 100% ease. 

Is this a "Pollyanna" kind of attitude?  Are we people who go around with the bluebird of happiness constantly sitting on our shoulder floating through life ignoring it's problems?  No, I don't think so, I don't think so at all. 

Our ability to rejoice in all circumstances doesn't mean that we fail to acknowledge that there are times that are nothing more than, in lieu of a better phrase, pretty darn crappy.  We experience disappointment, hurt, pain, emotional upheaval.  And we don't shut our eyes, slap a smile on, and say everything is great when those times come.  When the world sees people do that, they do not see anything except, at best, ignorance, at worst, hypocrisy.

In contrast, as Christians with knowledge of the joy that the Lord is able to give us, we are able to open our eyes and stare those times squarely in the face.  We are able to say, along with Paul, that when the hard times come that are beyond our ability to endure, we know that God is with us, bearing us up through His supernatural strength.  The knowledge of that companionship, the awareness of the power of God that He makes available to us in our times of need, gives us reason for joy in the worst of times.  Not because we enjoy being miserable (now there's a profound statement!), but that we can rejoice in the Lord because of His love for us, made apparent by His power exhibited in our lives.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us..."

(Mr. Swets was an Associate Pastor who worked with Dr. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Both Mr. Swets and Dr. Kennedy are now experiencing the joy of eternity!)