But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. {Phil 2:17 NLT}
The philosophy of the world is that joy comes from aggression – it means fight the people on your way to get what you want, after which you will be happy when you have succeeded. This ought not to be the case for us as believers. Our scriptural focus for today states – But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Apostle Paul emphasis that as believers, we don’t need to wait for the return of Christ to start experiencing the joy that comes from obeying God. He declares that this joy is a present reality and it comes through sacrificial living and service.
We often associate paying the ultimate sacrifice or any form of sorrow for the sake of the gospel as suffering, but Apostle Paul see suffering to the point of laying down his life for the cause of the gospel and sacrificial living as the doorways to experiencing deeper and true joy in Christ.
He sees the faithful service of believers, as an offering to God and not to any man. This faithful service should produce joy and satisfaction. When you suffer for the cause of Christ and that service is done in faithfulness to God, then you’re setting up yourself to enjoy Joy unlimited. It is not an omen for believers to suffer for Christ and should not be a source of piety by other believer, rather it should be a time to rejoice with such believer and help to promote the Joy of the Lord in the life of such a believer.
Build your life on sacrificial living and faithful service.
Have a Grace filled day – Good News awaits you.
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Last modified: January 13, 2016
