Joy:Suffering - Part 1 of 4

As I was doing my quiet time recently, I began reading Philippians. It is broken into four sections in my Bible. Part one is about suffering and having joy in your soul while doing so. It is a letter from Paul and Timothy to the people of Philippi. He tells them that he wishes grace and peace on them and their lives, first thing.

This brings to mind the questions:
Do I wish this upon my friends as often as I should?
Do I pray for my friends?
Though this has nothing to do with the topic of suffering, it still comes to mind from my time with God.

Next Paul says, "Everytime I think of you, I give thanks to my God." Again, do you pray for your friends? Do you take the time to thank God, the Creator, the Holy One, for your friends? He follows by saying the he does pray for his friends, and even better, he prays for his friends with joy! What greater thing is there besides our Lord in this world than the joy of praying for our friends? He continues that he is "certain" that God has begun a work in his friends in Phillipi, and that He will continue that work until Christ returns again. Yay! Christ will come back!! He tells them that because of that work God has begun in them, in their households, their towns, and their country, that he SHOULD feel that way about them. He should love them exactly the way he does already, he shouldhold them high in his heart.

Do we feel this way about our friends?
Do we let them know?

He then tells them what he prays for them about; peace, grace, understanding, that their love will flow in abundance, and for them to live pure and blameless lives...that is so beautiful.

After filling them in about how he misses them all so much and how he prays for them all so much, and how he loves them...so much, he begins talking about how he is so glad that people are preaching the gospel. Verses 12 and 13 explain the reason that we should have joy in suffereing for Christ's sake.

"And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ." Philippians 1:12,13

Follow up:
Verse 14 says that Paul, since he's been in prison, has been joyful because he can share the gospel with his prison mates boldly, and now they speak of God's grace boldly without fear. Some preach to look more "godly" than others, but some preach with meaning and love. He is frustrated with those who speak with their tongues, but have no relationship with God, but regardless, the gospel is still being preached. And that makes him happy.

Ha also rejoices because he knows that his friends are praying for him and that God will deliver him from his troubles eventually, whether through death or being let out of prison.

Then Pual brings up the question:

I will bring honor to Christ whether I live or die, but which is better?

I have two desires, my desire to go and be with Christ in Heaven, and praise Him forever...and my desire to stay on this earth until God calls my name to come to Him by natural death, so that I can spend my life teaching and telling others my testimony about Christ in my life...which is better?

Then he makes the decision that staying on this earth and sharing God's words would be better because it is better for the sakes of those whom he is sharing the words of God with...

What would you choose?

Life or the after life?

Heaven or being persecuted for the One we adore?

It's a hard decision to you? Easy for me, I am doing it now. Although the "persecution" American christians experience is only name calling, and being picked on...in other countries...people are being crucified and punished for their beliefs in the True God.

He also tells us to live as citizens of Heaven,  pure lives and pray for eachother,  because both trusting in Christ and suffering for Christ are privileges.

Lord, please open the heart of the Christians throughout the world to hear you word and give them an understanding that you are Who we live for, Your will will be done forever, and that they need to share their testimony and share the gospel as often as possible, because everytime the opportunity arises and they DON'T share...Satan high-fives his demonic angels.

Don't let the fear of being hurt stop you from sharing your love for Christ.

Memory verse of the week:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you." (Philippians 2:14, 15)

Put it somewhere you will see it often, and everytime you see it, read it out loud to yourself. It'll be no time until you'll have it memorized. Still be working on Psalm 119:11 and Proverbs 4:23)

Any prayer requests? Just post them in the comment section or e-mail them to me at:



livin4christ0129@yahoo.com

God Bless You!

Lanie.