Philippians 4:4-7, Third Sunday in Advent--Year C:

Philippians 4:4-7 is one of those gems of the Bible with so much packed into those four verses.

First, we are told to rejoice in the Lord always.  Our joy in the Lord should be a constant, permanent thing.  This is the kind of joy that we can all know at Christmas because it transcends personal heartache, worldly disappointments, or any kind of circumstance we must face. It is a joy that does not depend on outward appearances.   It is a joy in the Lord.  We cannot always rejoice in other things.  Conditions change.  Health, relationships, financial security can all be taken from us.  If we rejoice in those things too much, we can find ourselves losing our joy; but if we always rejoice in the Lord, we can have a joy that is deeper than shallow, superficial happiness--a joy that can withstand any trial.

 

Then, we are told to let our moderation, forbearance, long-suffering, or patience be known to all.  This speaks to a way of conducting ourselves and dealing with others--especially in times of adversity.  We will be testifying to others of our great faith if we are meek, patient, long-suffering of the weaknesses of others, and balanced in our view of life.

 

We are told not to be anxious for anything; but to  let our requests be known to God, with thanksgiving.  It is not wrong to make specific prayer requests to God.  In fact, in this passage, we are encouraged to do so.  We are not to be anxious, however; and we are always to be thankful.  We are to desire God's will above all; but we are encouraged to be very specific when we make our petitions to God. He knows all our needs and our requests.  He doesn't need the information; but we need the reminder that we are truly dependent on God for everything!    Perhaps this is a good way to check our motivations and our sincerity when we pray.  If there is anything we are about to request of God which makes us a little uneasy, that may be an indication that it is not of God in the first place!  If we are ashamed to make a particular request of God, perhaps that is an indication that our motivation is not quite what it should be.

 

If we do these things, we are told that the peace of God will keep our hearts in minds secure if we are grounded, staid in Christ Jesus.  When Christ Jesus is the source of all we do and think and of all we are, we can be at peace regardless of outer circumstances.  There is a peace that passes understanding.  It is incomprehensible--particularly to the non-Christian who cannot understand how we could possibly be calm and at peace amid surrounding gloom, fear, and tension.  But these verses give us the key.  We rejoice primarily and always in   the Lord.  We are patient and long-suffering.  We are not anxious because we know that we can go to God in prayer about anything.   And so, with Christian maturity, our peace grows to the point that it is an all-surpassing peace in Christ.

 

There is one more phrase that makes this passage particularly appropriate for Advent.  "The Lord is at hand."       " The Lord is near!  The early Christians may have interpreted this phrase to mean that the Second Coming of Christ was near at hand!  That did not occur in their lives, of course.  Still, we know that the Lord *Is at hand!  He is near us, dwelling within us by His Spirit.  He has said that He will never leave us.  And His Second Coming is possible at any moment.  The victory belongs to our God.  He will triumph over those forces that would consume His church.  The reality of Advent does assure us in the face of personal sorrows, trials, and seeming tragedies.  God has not lost His sovereignty over history or over our lives.  His love is ever with us, His steadfast kindness ever present!  The Lord is at hand.  God with us--Emmanuel; and so we can know His peace!

   

Straight ahead!  See my blog at:   www.noblindbluff.blogspot.com