All Joy in the Lord
Farewell; I wish you all joy in the Lord. I will say it again, all joy be yours. (Phil. 4:4 NEB)
Phil. 4:4-8, 1:21-23, Neh. 8:10, Ps. 16:11; Isa. 12:3; Lk. 15:3-10, 32; John 15:11
What Is God Saying?
Paul is nearing the end of his letter to his greatly loved church in Philippi. He is also near the end of his life of service to the Lord. One word keeps coming to the surface, rej0ice. It is not for lack of memory but precisely because he does remember. It must be said again and again, and it can never be said thought or done too often. Furthermore, there is a note of urgency about Paul writing at this time and from this place. He is imprisoned. He is about to prove that while living is Christ, to die is gain (Phil. 1:21). He desires to depart and be with Christ. That is the gain for him (1:23). His one goal in the time that does remain is to nurture and encourage their progress and joy in the faith.
In the NEB, there appear the beautiful words, ‘I wish you all joy in the Lord.’ That is Paul's desire for them. Joy in the Lord leads to that great companion of joy which is ‘peace that passes all understanding.’ Read this many-faceted gem of Scripture again and again (Phil 4:4-7). Joy and peace, and no anxiety.
How Does This Apply To Us?
The joy of which Paul speaks, the joy that he wishes for all, comes from one source. It is in the Lord and never apart from the Lord. Paul's wish that the Philippians might have all joy is immediately followed by a paragraph that concludes with, ‘Think on these things.’ If our lives are characterized by joy, we want others to have it, too. That is the nature of joy. It multiplies. As we share the grace of God, we reap the dividends of joy.
Pray With Me
Lord, fill my heart today with this one wish for all, joy in the Lord. In the act of wishing it for others, I come to have it for myself. In giving it, I keep it. In keeping it from others, I keep it from myself. Let it be my heart's desire that all shall know the joy of the Lord. May this supreme gift not be the possession of a select few. I have known the joy of the Lord without deserving. This blessing could transform the cheerless and discouraged hearts of others. It could root out bitterness and revenge. It could bring peace to a troubled world.
So, Lord, I will repeat it, All joy be theirs! In the flesh it seems impossible but, believing in the God of the impossible, I pray to the God of the impossible, "Let all joy be to all men." Lord, let it be all joy in the Lord—the joy of being with You without separation, the joy of walking with You without disobedience, the joy of serving You without needing to be great, the joy of believing Your strong Word without doubts. The first level rays of the sun paint with fire the tips of tossing waves. In the same, way, Lord, Your light breaks across my life.
To the praise of Him who has enabled us with joy to draw water out of the wells of salvation. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
I wrote the preceding devotional, ‘God's Watchful Care,’ during the difficult days preceding my wife's Graduation to Glory. All joy in the Lord was instantly hers. I believe that with all my heart, but it wasn't until one month to the day later that I was able to write today's devotional. I understand deeply and accept fully that since she has all joy in the Lord, I must cast away the ‘spirit of heaviness’ and put on ‘the garment of praise.’ So as I wish all joy in the Lord for you and as I know all joy in the Lord is here now and forever, I can say at last, all joy in the Lord is mine. May you find it, too, in the great privilege of prayer.
