IS YOUR LIFE MARKED BY JOY AND GRATITUDE?

May 14, 2014

IS YOUR LIFE MARKED BY JOY AND GRATITUDE?

Philippians 1:1-11

Angie Mosier

Central Truth

As believers in Christ, our lives should be marked by gratitude and joy -- gratitude that He saved us from our sins, and joy because we have been redeemed and are His children.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^{1

1:1
For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface} of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers^{2

1:1
Or bishops; Greek episkopoi} and deacons:^{3

1:1
Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi}

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,^{4

1:7
Or you all have fellowship with me in grace} both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Footnotes

[1] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
[2] 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi
[3] 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi
[4] 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace

My prayer is that my life would be marked by joy and gratitude. I'm not talking about the joy that comes from winning (although great) or the feelings of gratitude stemming from persevering with the Rangers long enough to see them win the pennant (I can hope!). I'm talking about living a life that is marked by gratitude that Christ saved me and the ineffable joy that results from being a child of God.

Paul's life was marked by gratitude and joy. Look at what Paul's gratitude stems from: the Philippians' partnership with him in the gospel. Paul is thankful to have co-laborers in sharing Christ's message of grace. Does that bring us gratitude? It should.

This passage has caused me to reflect on if my life is marked by joy and gratitude -- even, and especially, when things aren't going my way. Further, I believe that God wants us to share our stories of gratitude because He has redeemed us. His grace covers my sins and my past, your sins and your past, and Paul's sins and his past.

Before I began walking with the Lord, I lived the Dallas life oh-so-well. I partied and made decisions that had significant earthly and spiritual ramifications. I had the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but was not walking with the Spirit -- the worst of both worlds. I distinctly remember waking up after one of those shameful nights, wrestling with these agonizing questions: "Will God forgive me? Is it possible to be free from seemingly insurmountable shame? Will a man ever love me if he knows my past?" Answers: yes, yes, and yes!

Not only has Christ freed me from shame, but the Lord has brought me to a place where I want to share the joy and gratitude I now possess because He has set me free (Galatians 5:1), redeemed my life from the pit (Psalm 103:4), and set my feet on a rock (Psalm 40:2). As believers, may we not shy away from our stories of how He has taken us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Grateful.

1. What would our lives look like if we started each day praising God for our family, our job, our church, our salvation, and yes, even the trials in our lives (James 1:2)?

2. Does your life reflect the joy that comes from knowing you are His child? Where is there evidence of this joy in your life?

3. Is your joy temporary and apparent only when things are going well? Or, do you consider it "pure joy" when you are walking through a difficult season?

4. Today, what are you grateful for?

5. Are you grateful for your story? How is God using your story of redemption?