Advent 3: Thursday
Read:
Philippians 4:4-7Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be
known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)
Rejoice always. Let your gentleness be evident to all. Don't be anxious, but
pray with thanksgiving. These are all good traits, to be sure—and truly, they
ought to be part of the Christian life. As a Christian, you are to be joyful, for
your sins are taken away and your salvation is certain. You should be gentle and
patient with those around you, since the Lord has been so patient and gentle with
you. You shouldn't worry, because the Lord numbers the hairs on your head and
will take care of you in all circumstances. Therefore, no matter the situation, you
can pray with thanksgiving. Right?
Right?
Of course, if that's the case, it would then follow that if you're not joyful or
gentle or thankful or worry free, then you're not much of a Christian.
And if that's the case, then it would seem that your Christianity is pretty
flighty. On good days, life is joyful-gentle-worry-free. On bad days, life isn't;
and days when you most poignantly see the need for the Lord's help are also the
days when it's most easy for you to be joyless—irritable—worried. That's pretty
awful, if your faith is the least when you see the need for it most.
So maybe it would be better if we reread this text with a better distinction of
Law and Gospel. What we've discussed so far is, in fact, the Law of God: as a
Christian, you really have no excuse not to be joyful, gentle, thankful and worryfree.
Christ has conquered sin and death—of what should you be worried? As
long as you're sinful and living in a dying world, though, you're going to fail to
do what you ought. You're going to fail to be what you ought. If your faith is
built on your joy and gentleness, it's not just going to waver: it's not going to get
started, because you can't possibly be perfectly joyful and gentle enough!
Joylessness and worry and irritability and thanklessness should clearly show you
your sin and your need for a Savior.
Now, here's some great news: the Lord is at hand. He is near—as near to you
as His Word and His Sacraments. He who came and died for you—and who will
come again in glory—comes to you even now. He does not come because you
are joyful or gentle or thankful. He comes because you're sinful, and He has
grace for you. He forgives you for your failure to keep these commands; and
where life is so dark as to prevent you from joy and thankfulness, the Lord is
joyful and thankful for you. Furthermore, He promises that when He comes
again, He will deliver you from all those things that afflict you now.
And then, all that is left for you is joy and gentleness, thankfulness and
peace.
For Thou art our Salvation, Lord, Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade And wither like a flow’r decayed.
(TLH 63:3)