Good Morning Brothers,

So how many of you are watching the stimulus deal unfold? How is it making you feel? Depressed? Is your gut wrenching? or do you even care? Lately these days, the news from any channel doesn’t seem too “cheery”. Let’s be honest, the saying, “no news is good news” actually is very appealing right now.

I think the hardest thing for me, personally, is to learn how to let go of current events at the times when it effects me the most. For those who know me, I can be politically charged which can interfere with my witnessing to others. But this post is not about politics by any measure. In fact, I share this with you because I want you to realize that we are all in the same boat when it comes to seeking for the joy of believing.  Nothing else – just believing. But believing what?

In Philippians 3, Paul writes about focusing only on Christ and nothing else. The problem that we face many times is that we focus so much on what is happening in this world that we forget the bigger picture. And each person is different when defining the things that we focus on.

Paul pretty much generalizes and says anything of the flesh that we put our confidence in conflicts with our relationship and the joy we have with Christ.  In fact, Paul describes how good he had it before his transformation in his relationship with Christ. He was circumcised on the eighth day, he was of the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, etc., etc. Bottom line, Paul was the model citizen that everyone wanted to be like. He had it all. And then… God intervened. And whatever God did with Paul that day on the road outweighed everything Paul had done before. 

Paul was a believer. He didn’t need to focus on anything else. He was willing to throw everything… everything away just to experience the joy – including his own life. As I said before, his joy stems from the fact that he believes. Does this mean that he didn’t struggle with his own personal tempations? Absolutely not. He is just as human as we all are. Read what Paul says:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 13-14

Now one thing I know most of us are, and that is goal driven. When you set your sights on the things you want, you tend to find a way to get it. You plan, you ponder, you work hard to obtain it. You know you will make mistakes when striving toward your goal, but you don’t focus on the mistakes. No. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue on believing in reaching that goal.

So if we can only put this kind of energy in just believing in Christ and nothing else, just like we do when we work hard to obtain our goals here on earth, then nothing else will matter. Just like Paul. Remember, don’t worry about what you did in the past. Things will happen and it won’t matter how hard we work to try and fix whatever we did wrong. Simply believe in Christ and set your sites towards heaven. If you believe this, then there is when you will find Joy. 

So my challenges to everyone is this: put some time aside this week for yourself. Clear your head (go for a run, listen to music, DON’T read the paper, etc.) and try to re-focus on Christ alone. Don’t worry about what you did, what is done is in the past. Christ will meet you on the road you are currently on. If you can do this, I bet you too will witness the joy Paul experienced. The joy of believing.

Remember, the benefit of this blog is for you to share what is on your mind in relation to what we are currently studying.  Sharing with each other  allows for us to challenge, encourage, and lift each other up. By doing this, we can touch the lives of so many people around the world. 

Have a great week and check in next week when we discuss the Joy of giving in Philippians 4.