A Simple Interaction

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7 NIV 

Today we begin a passage of scripture that actually continues in thought and execution through verse 9. However, we will take it piece by piece and let it unfold for us.

The passage is one of the very few I have found in scripture that actually contain a "how-to" in 1, 2, 3 form. We have 5 points of action, one follows another in sequence -- to think in ways that bring healing to the heart, health to the body and progress in and to the Kingdom. I think I have mentioned before that a good title for the entire book of Philippians is "How to Stay Sane in An Insane Word." Paul certainly did have his challenges as he lived the Lord's Word - thrown out of most churches and cities where he had gone in obedience to the Lord, forsaken by most friends and co-workers, misunderstood by many churches he founded and on and on it goes. He had his challenges and struggles to keep his mind and heart where the Lord could use him and to keep himself positive in his approach to people.

These verses are his "how-to." So we will follow them in that way and see what we can glean. His first point is to "Rejoice in the Lord always" and then he says it again. What is remarkable here is the reason for our rejoicing. It is a person. Rejoice in the Lord! He is enough reason and excitement to rejoice 24/7. He does not instruct us to rejoice because of something the Lord will do or has done. No, not at all. We are to simply rejoice in Him.

Sometimes I just want to ask Paul, what he understood here. Then the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that I do not need Paul's explanation because as I begin to rejoice in the Lord I discover for myself that He is sufficient. That is all that needs to be said. He is sufficient.

This action immediately raises our thinking into heaven's view where our Lord Jesus is the point. Our thoughts are removed from ourselves and from our immediate circumstances into a place of vision and reception. What wonders are there to be seen! What joy to behold and embrace - we have such a Lord and such a King! Such a simple statement: Rejoice in the Lord. What an awesome lifting of everything we are. This simple interaction of relationship is fantastic.