Read Philippians 1:18-19 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Discover
Paul was the epitome of unshakeable because he put his hope in an unshakeable God. When people threw him in jail, he saw it as an opportunity to introduce the guards to Jesus. When people tortured and threatened to kill him, he didn’t let it rattle him because he knew his present sufferings were nothing compared to his future in heaven. When people let him live, he said, “To live is Christ,” and preached the gospel all the more. This kind of joy could only come from a source that lasts.
A lot of things give us momentary happiness, but what we have in Christ is so profound, deep, and durable that it can’t be taken away. It doesn’t run out, go dry, or get used up. There’s no shortage of things we can be discouraged by. We stand out when we're joyful regardless.
• Source your joy in something that can supply. Take a few minutes to do a heart assessment. What would you say is currently your source of joy? Is it able to sustain? What would it look like on a daily basis for you to source your joy in Jesus?
Respond
Use your Philippians Guidebook to reflect and respond. For a digital copy of the guidebook, visit tpcc.org/rebels-guide.
Want to go deeper? Look up the following verses to see what Paul wrote toward the end of his life in another letter. Note what you observe and then continue with your time of response.
• 2 Timothy 2:9-13