Stephan Hoffman

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.  Philippians 3: 1

Read Philippians 3:1-11

To rejoice in the Lord is a different kind of joy from the happiness you will find in the world. You might temporarily find happiness in money, power or pleasure, but it is fleeting and sooner or later the surge of emotion makes way for a kind of insatiable emptiness.

The joy Paul speaks of does not depend on luck or success. It doesn’t even depend on basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter or freedom. This joy comes from the inexhaustible source of hope, comfort and love that is in Christ. All you need to experience it, is to completely trust in Jesus Christ and not rely on earthly things.

Paul tells us very clearly that all earthly glory and honour is worth nothing compared to the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ. Jewish circumcision and law-keeping, and all the zeal in the world means nothing in light of God's grace through Jesus Christ. Paul uses very strong langauge to say that he considers everything garbage, rubbish, waste and worthless compared to Jesus Christ.

Experiencing the power of Christ's resurrection exceeds all else. The knowledge that you have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, that you died with him and that you will live with him, is so strong that everything else fades in comparison and becomes null and void.

We can experience the true inexhaustible joy Paul speaks of. It is the kind of joy that I so often see in the eyes of a believer, even if they are lying on their deathbed. It is the kind of joy that allows a believer to turn from the side of a grave and testify to the hope, comfort and peace in the midst of pain and sadness. It is the kind of joy that Christian martyrs sang hymns about while they burned at the stake. It is the kind of joy that nothing and no one can steal or take away. May you experience this joy!

Prayer: Dear God, I am so grateful and glad for the privilege of knowing you. Thank you that I can live today in the power of your resurrection. Thank you for your joy welling up in my life through the work of your Holy Spirit. Thank you that you are the source of my joy. Amen.