Heralds Digest

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8 NKJV) Joy thrives in environment where truth, honesty, purity, love, goodness, and praise reign. Unfortunately, a perpetual voyage into the Island of angels will be required in order to enjoy this perfect environment. Except a personal effort is deployed to create this desired environment, life is generally lived with consistent baggage of frustration. Although it is cheaper and admirable to shift responsibility of environmental sanitation to someone else, no one else can clean up our hearts from every filthiness that kill joy within. Creative joy is the sole responsibility of every created jones.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 NKJV) The reality of life is the predominance of adversity and anxiety in human affairs, which queries the existence of God. Invariably, no one should be admonished to rejoice in adversity or anxiety. And neither would Apostle Paul do. Rather, he said to the Philippians "Rejoice in the Lord always". It implies that during adversity, we are admonished to exhibit the character of God that abides within us; while the comfort of the Lord is expected to always rule over our anxieties. Therefore, all times can be the season of joy, if the presence of God overrides our reason for rejoicing.

"Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." (Philippians 3:15 NKJV) Maturity appears to be associated with loss of old memories, gain of new mind-sets, and supply of fresh melodies. Apostle Paul would heartily recommend these spiritual axioms to the Philippian believers as the secret of exceptional revelation from the throne of grace. Old memories are naturally loaded with pains, disappointments, and despairs that the matured must willfully delete, while the mind becomes free to access new opportunities. Heaven's door is ever open for consistent supply of fresh melodies, old memories and mind-sets often distort the rhythm of a joyful heart. A matured mind produces music from an heavenly joy that never stops, even when a joyful heart stop beating.

"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3 NKJV) Joyful feelings are dictated by friendly happenings, including the actions of associates. Whether real or fake, the reflexes of all actions appear to suggest the personality of the receiver. The Philippians were here warned against the temptation to draw the state of the heart from status of happenings. The suggestions of happenings are haply unreliable. Unlike happenings, God's promises are the basis of a joyful Spirit. Even when all appears down, God is always up on the throne. Confidence in God gives a joyful Spirit, uncensored.

"For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:21 NKJV) The search for satisfaction in life is endless, except if the runner changes focus. The possession of material things would initially appear to give satisfaction until the seeker realizes the impossibility of beating the ever-increasing stake of seeking. Obviously, man's sense of inner joy or fulfillment is not resident in the fruitless passion to satisfy self, but in the offer of service to others. With the exception of Timothy and Epaphroditus, other believers around Apostle Paul appeared to bow to the priority of seeking their personal needs before feeding others. While provision of personal needs underscore the maturity of the state of human heart and stability in the face of challenges of life, hidden joy is often discovered with commitment to the needs of others.

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14 NKJV) The secret of an ever glowing light is the continuous supply of unadulterated fuel for the combustion of flame. Apostle Paul had to warn the Philippians against the danger of complain and dispute, if they care to be blameless and harmless. Complain works best towards dispute resolution when matters are before independent panel, whose members are void of personal interests. But when self suffer the pain, it is better to seek special grace to stay calm and refrain from the temptation of ordering correction. Like adulterated fuel, complain and dispute can consume self in its flame, rather than correcting others.

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8 NKJV) There is an uncommon sense of joy in accepting the gift of nature, without an ungrateful agitation for change. When Jesus found himself in appearance as a man, he has the option to clearly underscore his divinity in every relationship with his parents, disciples, and the larger society; but he chose to humble himself in acceptance. Christ has thought us that agitation for status change can only guarantee artificial joy, if successful. However, contentment with our present appearance is a source of natural joy and a condition for our glorious appearance.