Mornings Musings-A Positive Outlook

      Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...



Paul has fallen on hard times, so he has.  He's been rounded up and put into prison for preaching the message of Jesus.  He's not going to let that get him down though.  He talks about 'joy'!  If you look at Philippians 1:1-11 you'll see he talks about praying but that is understandable.  When he talks about 'joy' when he's in prison conditions of those times; man, now, that's got to be by God's grace!

He certainly had lots of time to pray.  And he prays with joy.  Why?  Just thinking of the Philippians brought Paul joy.   Their partnering with him in the  gospel right from the first day up until the time he was in prison and writing about it showed their spiritual maturity and as a father observing his children and seeing them grow and take responsibility, and even wishing to 'help their father' would have been strong encouragement to Paul.  No wonder he felt joyful.

 Joy came to Paul because he believed that God would complete the good work of sanctification, that "perfecting" for the Philippians' faith in them all the way until Jesus would come for them.  Paul got joy just realizing that the Philippians had him in their hearts.  What good fellowship and concern for one another they must have shared.

Despite his circumstances, Paul fixed his heart and mind on positive things and was thankful and full of joy.  He had a prayer for them.  He wanted to bless them and give them, what we might call nowadays, "his last will and testament"; the best he could think of.    He wanted their love to abound in:  knowledge and in depth of insight.  This so they could discern what was best, pure and blameless.  He also wanted them to be filled with the "fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."  


All this is part of Christian living and good for us to also increase in measure of these things too.  However the point is that Paul, instead of fixating on his circumstances, thought very unselfishly of his 'children', the Philippians and their good.  This is a good example for us to follow too; this is a secret to his joyful, positive outlook.


Another aspect that brought great joy to Paul was that despite his "chains" (imprisonment for Christ), "most of those brothers had been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly!  "How good is the God we adore" who was so faithful to them all back then.  He is still the same today.  Praise His holy Name.


I would have expected the opposite emotion...fear and afraid to speak out the name of Jesus and to tell of His love.  Paul's focus was not on himself but on God and others.  He was a good example to the Philippian believers and they too caught the joyful attitude inspite of  their difficulties spawning from the persecutions of those who believed in Jesus Christ.


Paul had another thing he was joyful about which we see in Philippians 1:12-30.  He rejoiced that Christ was preached by others.  Even though he was imprisoned others took up the baton.  How glad of heart he must have been.  Yes, even in this he could have looked at the negative side of things as there were some who were doing this preaching out of wrong motives yet still he rejoiced that the gospel was preached.  He said, "Yes, and I will continue to rejoice."  Adding on to that  was due to the Philippians' prayers for him and the help the Holy Spirit of Jesus was giving him.  He did not despair.  

We too have these avenues of encouragement available to us, and can and should be for others too in their times of trial.  How do we help especially those under dire circumstances of persecution?  Do you even dare to help?  In what ways can you think of to give them joy in Christ?

Most questions to pose:  Would we have that sufficient courage and fearlessness to stand firm in Christ?  To hold onto our belief as we suffer on behalf of Christ?  We likely never really know the answers to these questions until such a time comes.  I pray that each of you, my sons, and one and all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, would be able to overcome the fear of persecution; that you will be able to retain your joy of the Lord in such situations.

Both Paul and the Philippians faced persecution, hardship, and death for their faith in Jesus Christ but together they "stood firm in one spirit and as one man".  For the faith of the gospel, they could, and did indeed have, that "sufficient courage," empowered by the Holy Spirit and their unity in Christ Jesus.

May we too have such a positive outlook and choose joy; the joy of the Lord being our strength.

                                                ~ERC 2016~