Are you surviving or thriving? 

THRIVING IN LIFE INVOLVES LEARNING AN IMPORTANT BIBLICAL CONCEPT.

Let’s start in the beginning, starting with Phil 3:1:

“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.”

The first way you and I can find a life that thrives instead of simply survives is we must learn an important biblical concept—we must rejoice. Paul said this over and over again. In fact, he said it nearly 20 times in this four-chapter letter. Why would he so often tell us to rejoice? He knew something we don’t.

Especially when life doesn’t go the way we want it to, it’s easy to go into survival mode. We bottle ourselves up and retreat to the comfort of our shells like a turtle. It’s a lot harder to thrive when we are isolated. The way we move from survival to thriving is the gift of God we call joy. That’s why Paul could write, “It’s no trouble for me to remind you again and again to rejoice.” He saw it as a command for us, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Paul knew there would be times in our lives when we would not feel joyful.

For some of us, that’s now. We’re living with cancellations, elections are around the corner, summer is almost over and school picks back up, so it’s hard for us to be joyful, especially when life gets hectic. Paul would remind us that obeying this command to be joyful doesn’t rely on circumstances, but on God.

What is true joy though? Sometimes we tend to think that happiness and joy are the same thing, but they’re very different. Happiness is based on circumstances. When circumstances aren’t going well, we’re not happy. But joy goes deeper. It’s more profound. Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life. We need to remember that no matter what difficulties we’re experiencing, God is in control. Do you believe that? Joy is the quiet confidence, internal feeling, that ultimately everything is going to be alright. Do you believe that no matter how bad the stock market is, no matter how much the economy continues to struggle, no matter what happens in our lives, God has a plan and He does all things well? We find our joy in the knowledge that God is going to take everything in our lives and use it for our good and for His glory. Romans 8:28 reads, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Philippians 3:2, “Rejoice in the Lord always”

THRIVING IN LIFE INVOLVES LOOKING OUT FOR COUNTERFEITS.

BE CAREFUL OF TEACHERS WHO SAY HOLINESS IS FOUND IN DOING STUFF INSTEAD OF IN WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

THRIVING IN LIFE INVOLVES LETTING GO OF MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.

Philippians 3:4-6 “Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”

THIS INVOLVES YOUR CATEGORIES.

THIS INVOLVES YOUR CONNECTIONS.

THRIVING IN LIFE INVOLVES LOVING JESUS CHRIST.

THIS MEANS EMBRACING HUMILITY.

THIS MEANS EMBRACING A DIFFERENT PRIORITY.

THIS MEANS EMBRACING THE BEST OPPORTUNITY.