The next 14 days (during our “Refuel” series) my blog will be different as we continue to take a journey through the book of Philippians.  We are halfway through this book of joy.  Ask God to open your heart to what He wants to say to you as you read a little each day from this book of joy.  If you’re just joining us, welcome to the journey.

Monday Aug. 25 * Phil. 3:1

3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

There’s no doubt Paul wanted these Christ-followers in Philippi to know what it was to have absolute joy in Christ.  He is about to write them about his past where he made the mistake of thinking he could “earn” favor with God or impress God with his religious works.  He was about to remind them of some things he had already written, because he wanted to emphasize certain truths about the Christian faith and life to them.  He didn’t want them deceived into believing they had to do “outward things” (works) to earn their way into a relationship with God.  He wanted them to rejoice in their relationship with God, and not be deceived by anyone who would try to weigh them down with a bunch of legalistic rules.  He wanted them to learn what it meant to rejoice in the grace that was theirs through Jesus Christ.  To another church he wrote these words:  “But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! 18 Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.” (Gal. 2:17-21) 

Take a moment to thank God for His marvelous grace made available to you through Jesus Christ, and rejoice in the fact that through your faith – Christ lives in you.