Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline continued

[1:18] What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

8. THE CELEBRATION "I rejoice..."

This entire amazing process that we are considering which I have called brokenness is illustrated everywhere in the Scripture and it always ends the same way for the believer. It is like the alabaster box that was broken; the odor of the ointment inside the broken box filled the room. What is inside us is not really know until brokenness comes, and then the "scent" is released.

The celebration comes after the process, not necessarily during. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. Paul told young Timothy to endure affliction. We are not called to enjoy everything for there is much to suffer, but the satisfaction and celebration comes knowing that we have endured, prevailed, persisted through whatever it is we have been called upon to face.

Do you think for a minute that Jesus thought, "Oh goodie goodie, I just can't wait to suffer, bleed and die for humanity?" Of course not! He struggled but prevailed. Do you think when Paul was being beaten with a cat of nine tails that he was saying, "Please give me more, I'm so happy about this." That would be insane.

Jesus and Paul looked beyond the pain and agony to what lay beyond and we must do the same. It is what that storm that brings still water is beyond this storm. No person in his/her right mind says, "Oh please let me go through another hurricane." But you might hear something like this, "Oh we thank God we lived through that."

The celebration comes after the victory, but the victory will never come without all the other elements we have previously discussed. Anything more is just shallow talk. Paul wasn’t nearly as concerned about how the preaching affected him as he was the fact that the preaching of Christ was being done. The celebration was certainly worth the humiliation.

BLESSINGS!