Abundant Joy

A devotion for our church for this past Sunday 

Abundant Joy

Philippians 4:4-9

A long-time Baptist preacher in my hometown had a weekly newspaper column of Bible studies. He always concluded them with a quotation from this week’s scripture, “THINK ON THESE THINGS!” 

Our scripture certainly invites us to meditate on its meanings! What if I’m not feeling joy (vs. 4)? How can I suspend all my worries and anxieties (vs. 6)? What if peace of mind eludes me (vs. 7)? What if the things I think about fall short of the high standards Paul sets (vs. 8)?   

Beth and I were talking about this scripture. Beth wondered how other cultures define joy. Interesting question! 

Happiness and joy aren’t exactly the same thing, but I found articles online that discuss cultural attitudes toward happiness. In the U.S., we tend to associate personal achievement and freedom with happiness, while in Japan, happiness is connected to moderation, social harmony, and good luck. When we visited Japan in 2016, we saw so many shrines in urban neighborhoods, where passersby could honor the spirits of good fortune. We also experienced the cleanliness of urban environments, and an eagerness of people to help you if you’re distressed or look lost. 

Another article discussed how family ties and social relationships are important in places like India, where happiness seemed to abate as income grew. In the U.S., the pursuit of happiness is a natural right, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, while in other countries, happiness is associated with chance, and therefore not something worth seeking actively. 

I suppose I think of happiness as a specific emotional response—I have a great day with the family, I buy an antique book that I like, and so on—while joy is more like an attitude. Similarly, my feeling of happiness (say, I’m watching a favorite TV show) is different from peace of mind, a more long-lasting emotion. “The peace which surpasses all understanding” (verse 7) is deeper still. 

Where do abundant joy and transcending peace come from? They are gifts of the Spirit, provided as we grow in our relationship with God.  

I like to think of Christ's death and resurrection as bringing about a kind of reality, which is forceful and real for us today. Our sins and wrongdoings and failures (and our smallness in the universe) have no ability to separate us from God—because we’re protected in that resurrection reality. 

Eternal life is like being kept in a protective and secure place, out of reach of danger. Obviously, we still face difficult and dangerous, painful situations. But if we have a relationship with Christ, then Christ keeps us shielded from the full powers of death and evil. Our very lives are tucked away and protected, because we’re already sharing in the divine life of Christ. We have a new identity for the remainder of our physical existence, characterized and empowered by God’s tremendous and infinite love.

This is our reality! As Paul teaches, we can keep these things in mind, and through God’s Spirit, we can rejoice in our hearts. Paul is in prison as he writes these words, a good illustration of how he has thought a lot about his life in Christ. As we all go about our lives, we will still worry about things, but we understand that God is very near. We have an inner peace that is so pervasive through good times and bad, that we know it’s from the Lord!  

Prayer: Lord, give us the joy and peace that nothing can take away. Amen.