June's Passage: Philippians 2:12-18
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of Life, so that in the Day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)
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Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text (see the archive links on the lower right of this page for review). Today we will discuss...
Obey for Joy
In the previous article, we ended with the pastoral note that said that leaders in the church and in the family find solace for their hard work when they see the members of the church family growing in faithful obedience.
Our final point from this month’s passage springs from that note. Obedience gives birth to joy.
After saying that he will be proud to see that he did not run or labor in vain when he sees the church holding fast to the Word of Life, Paul continues on to say, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
That’s a statement that we sometimes read right past without letting it sink in. Read it again.
“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
Just as when Jesus disregarded food in John 4 because He was so satisfied by doing the work the Father had sent him to accomplish, so to, Paul disregards the prospect of pain and persecution, because he is so overwhelmed and comforted by the treasury of faith that he sees in that young church.
So, first, our obedience brings joy to those who disciple us. As a pastor I can say I am overjoyed sometimes to the point of tears when I see someone loosed from the slavery to a particular sin. It is so very satisfying to see God at work in that way.
Then, Paul encourages us to share in that joy. “Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”
So should we rejoice because our obedience brings our leaders joy? Or, should we rejoice because we have obeyed God? Yes. Both.
But also, Paul seems to be pointing to multiplication here. We “LIKEWISE” rejoice when we rejoice for the same reason. We can only truly rejoice when we have begun to disciple others and then are able to see them obey by faith. Don’t miss that opportunity, pour into other people’s life. Give to others what you have been given.
And still more than those reasons to rejoice, go back to the beginning of the passage. “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
So our joy should not only come because of what we have done and for it’s positive affect it has on those who are charged to shepherd us, we can also rejoice as we think on the fact that Jesus Christ continues to give His grace to guide us in the truth of His Word and we can rejoice that He gives us the holy Spirit to empower us to do the right thing.
Then, and here’s the beautiful thing, look at the cycle. When we get all of the above - then our joy and gratitude for Jesus gives us the fuel to obey again today, which fuels our joy and the joy of others. Then that joy fuels our obedience tomorrow. Then that obedience fuels more joy.
IF WE CAN GRAB HOLD OF THIS MONTH’S PASSAGE (that’s a big IF), but If We Can, then we can find ourselves caught up in a joyful obedience that keeps on turning in perpetual motion. Joy leads to obedience. Obedience leads to joy. Joy leads to obedience. Obedience leads to joy…
This is where the church comes in. We help to keep one another in this groove by doing the simple things we see in the scriptures. Encourage one another, spur one another on to good works, gather with one another regularly, restore a brother or sister who has sinned, correct one who is in error, protect the flock from wolves who might turn our hearts away from the truth and away from obedience to God’s design for our lives.
Seen in this light, all of these duties that we have to one another are not seen as burdensome items on a divine to-do list. They are spiritual tools for our Joy.
We will end with a quote from John Piper which shows this cycle again, so we won’t forget it:
“Faith breaks the enslaving spell of the world’s allurement. In that way, faith leads us into obedience with freedom and joy.” ~ John Piper
