The book of life, the heart of joy, the peace of God
Whose names are in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3).
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (4:4).
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (4:7).
The final chapter of Philippians is so uplifting. Paul demonstrates the reality of his ministry in his own life and at the same time desires so much that his fellow Christians might share in his experience. This desire came out of the genuine love he had for the church at Philippi. In the first chapter of the letter, Paul writes “I have you in my heart.” All service is the overflow of the love Christ has for us.
Today we hear a lot about the “can-do” attitude demonstrated in a determination to accept and overcome life’s challenges. Paul had a “can-do” approach 2000 years ago: it did not have its source in himself, but in Christ. He saw his weakness, and the means through which Christ could demonstrate His power. This is why he starts the chapter, “stand fast in the Lord”. This extraordinary powerful and joyous letter was written from prison by an apostle who, after years of service and suffering, stood firm in His faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and appealed to the Philippians to do the same. What follows is very practical. He first deals with a problem between two sisters and entreats them to agree in the Lord, reminding them of the way they had served the Lord together. He asks the saints to help them resolve their problem. He reminds them of the love of Christ, which had placed their names side by side in the Book of Life. Such love dissolves disagreement and restores the joy of our fellowship of love in Christ.
Then Paul returns to one of the consistent themes of his letter: joy. I remember being told of a brother who stood outside his church every Sunday evening and faithfully distributed tracts to passers-by. He always dressed in a dark suit and had a solemn face. One evening, he offered a tract to a man, who refused it with the words, “No thank you, I have enough problems!” Joy is placed after love in the features of the fruit of the Spirit. Christ’s love puts our names in the Book of Life. The same love fills our hearts with joy: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (v. 4). Joy is not merely a feeling. There is energy in joy. Sadness weakens us, but joy strengthens us. The joy of the Lord is our strength. It was joy in the burning hearts of the two disciples who had walked all the way to Emmaus that gave them the power to get up and walk all the way back to Jerusalem. Paul associates joy with the gentleness of Christ, and with the nearness of the Lord both now and in the assurance of His return (v. 5).
Paul goes on to encourage his readers to bring everything to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving. It is through the practice of prayer we know the peace of God, “which passes all understanding”. The peace of God guards and protects our hearts and minds in Christ. It removes anxiety, focuses our minds on what is positive and brings us close to the God of peace. In these brief opening verses of the final chapter of Philippians, Paul conveys his enjoyment of the light of love, joy and peace, which streamed into his prison cell. It was an experience he could not keep to himself; it had to be shared. And we are so thankful to the Lord that it is shared with us.
