July 20, 2020
Philippians 4:4-7
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 every situation, 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Growing up on and around military bases around the world, we learned to wait at the gate for the guard to allow us access. Over the years, I am sure that hundreds of different guards stopped us, talked to us and allowed us to enter the bases.  But I only remember one.  In fact I don’t remember his name.  But I remember he was always smiling.  In fact, people gave him the nickname “Smiley.”  You never saw him, but don’t you wonder why he was so happy?  We may think that everything in his life was so good that he had better reasons to smile than we do these days.  Maybe.

Paul wrote from prison to a church in Philippi.  The church was established in the same city where Paul and Silas had been beaten and imprisoned.  It is also the place where Paul and Silas sang and worshiped at midnight as the other prisoners listened.  Then an earthquake set them free.  So when Paul wrote from his own pain and said, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice,” he was not saying, “If things go well for you, be happy.”  The point is that Paul was much more aware that he was “in the Lord” than that he was “in prison.” 

It would have been easy for Paul to decry the injustice of his imprisonment and say, “unfair.”  Instead, Paul modeled and called upon others to be gentle because the Lord is near.  God is watching, so why worry?  In this anxious season, the people of God can get caught up in the pervasive angst.  Paul offers prayer as an alternative to worry.  What does prayer promise that worrying doesn’t?  Peace.  Transcendent peace.  Protective peace. 

In this day of mask wearing, it may be hard for people to see our joy.  Some people smile with their eyes as well.  We don’t know how long this difficult time will last, but we do know that the Lord is near.  Let his joy be our strength today.  Let his peace be our protection today.  Chesterton was right:  “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting.  It has been found difficult and left untried.”  What if we tried it?  Someone would notice!
Pray with me:         
Father, in these difficult days we do not want to play pretend.  This season is hard for so many reasons.  Remind us of your unfailing love and constant presence with us.  Let us serve you today with joy.   Help us to live our faith visibly and to speak it audibly when people wonder at our joy in spite of our struggles.  Fill us today with your peace we pray, so that we have some to share with others.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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