Philippians The Joyful Message!

Although we are exploring the Book of Philippians and its message of joy that it carries, this portion deals with the Apostle Paul and his mission. There are other places, as well, which deal directly with his Christian commission and his outstanding qualifications. He was Saul of Tarsus, a well-respected theologian, well educated under the one and only Gamaliel. He was a very devout religious Hebrew. He was a Pharisee, which meant adherent to the law and its letter. He was granted a Roman citizenship, meaning he was a free man equal to those who were in control of the country. Jesus picked him to preach and carry the message to the Gentiles, and to stand before kings. In the book of Act chapters 25 and 26, the Apostle Paul was preaching to King Agrippa and others of equal stature. King Agrippa told him “you almost persuaded me to be a Christian and to be like you.” Paul responded by saying “I wish you could be like me.”

This is the Apostle Paul, no other believer is like him, and, as a result of his conversion, millions upon millions came to know Jesus because of him. Christianity was an Eastern religion and because of Paul, it is considered a Western religion now. All those who were jealous, including the leaders of his former faith, and the high priests were trying to discredit him and execute him. He called these people dogs, and that their circumcision of the flesh was a waste. He said we who believe are the true circumcision of God. The dog in those days was considered the lowest of all the animals, and when he called them dogs, it had to be the most demeaning description ever uttered. I know how people love their pet dogs now and the SPCA would not be happy to describe bad people as dogs, but in Palestine at the time of Paul that’s how it was, and to a certain extent it still is! Paul had it right, and he is making it clear in this book, as he did in his letter to the Galatians, that the true mark of the believer is the love of God in our lives, not the mutilation of the flesh. Jesus said “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

Despite all the critics, and the fact that he was in prison when he wrote this letter, Paul could say “rejoice in the Lord always.” He also said “worry about nothing but in everything with prayer and thanksgiving let all your requests be known unto God.”
The Apostle Paul said we are to follow his example because he is following and emulating our Lord Jesus. I do thank Christ for a man like Paul and for all the Christians who were sacrificed so that we may believe. Most of all I thank Christ for His sacrificial love for me, and His unspeakable gift. Amen!