Philippians 4:4-7 Advent Devotional

Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 18, 2008

Week 3: JOY

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

One of the etymological roots of the word “rejoice” is “rejoir” meaning “to welcome.” The first line in this passage of Paul’s message to the Philippians can, therefore, be read as a reminder to welcome the Lord always.

What do we do when we prepare to welcome a friend into our home? We might need to vacuum or do some mopping. More than likely, we’ll need to make a trip to the store to pick up our guests’ favorite food or drink. Then, we might prepare a meal or some snacks to share with our guest.

It can be a lot of work to welcome a guest, but that work is richly rewarded when we relive shared memories, listen to good music, and enjoy some good food. This time spent with a dear friend is not about accomplishing anything other than just being together, but it is time very well spent because we are given the great gift of peace through these visits. We are comforted because we are with someone whose company we enjoy and who loves and appreciates us.

This calls to mind Antoine de Saint-Exupery who reminded us in The Little Prince that the time we “waste” for our friends is what makes them so important. Other things may seem more important or may be the source of greater stress, but we must make time with friends a priority. We must be intentional about making time for our friends.

Our friends have also made time for us and have provided us with a sense of peace. It is important, then, that we also express our gratitude to them. (Thank you for sharing this time with me. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for who you are.)

This “thanksgiving” is important for a friend to hear, but it may be even more important as an act of humility on our part. Our expression of gratitude allows us to admit that we need others. This acknowledgement might also serve as a helpful reminder to make time for our friend again soon.

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We do not need to get out the vacuum or the mop in order to welcome the Lord, so in some respects welcoming Christ should be easier than welcoming a guest to our home. But how often are we guilty of not devoting time to spend with Jesus? We simply have too much to do to “waste” time; we have important work to do! Are we really too busy for 20-30 minutes a day?

Think of how rewarding it could be to spend time daily with our dear friend and Lord. This time could be used to celebrate our many blessings - our friends and family, a great meal, or a warm smile. This time could also be used to ask for assistance as we try to grow to become a better friend, husband, wife, son, daughter, neighbor, or co-worker. Time spent with our friend, Christ Jesus, would also make us more mindful of His presence as we celebrate life’s blessings and endure its struggles, as we fall short and as we succeed.

We must simply slow down a little bit - step away from the computer, turn off the TV, take off the headphones, and take a break from texting. We must make an intentional effort to welcome Christ and be glad in His presence. It is through this welcoming, Paul reminds us, that our hearts and minds become “guarded” from the unhelpful anxieties that so often trouble us. Paul’s simple formula is this: Humbly welcome the Lord and set your heart and mind at peace.

Rejoice and be glad! Welcome the Lord always!

By Keith Laschinger, Director of Admissions