The third thing that Paul warns us to watch out for is the Substitute.
Watch out for the things that life will try to convince you will bring you joy that just does not bring you joy. Career. Social Status. Houses. Cars. “If this happened I would be happy.”
You can’t have any “thing” making you happy. Paul said, “I’ve tried it all.” Check out Paul’s list.
(Philippians 3:4-6) “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel (legalism/religion), of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews (race); in regard to the law, a Pharisee (carrer/power) ; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless (top of the food chain).”
God is a jealous God who doesn’t accept anything taking that place in our heart. Likewise, He doesn’t want us to accept anything in place of the ture joy that he wants us to experience and it only comes from an intimate fellowship with His Spirit.
In this regard, I think Paul saved some of the most beautiful scriptures in this entire letter for this moment. The rest of the chapter shows us what we can do to truly help us maintain Joy. In fact I want to offer you a promise that the next three things that Paul writes about here, if we will download them to our daily lives and apply them, there is nothing that this life can bring that can rob our joy.
Tomorrow…Maintaining your joy.
