Phil 3:1 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
NOTE: Three things stand out in this section of Paul's letter. First, while there are still two chapters in length left, he is wrapping up with some final thoughts. It takes a little effort to finish his final thoughts. Second, his comment about writing the same things to you again is either a reference to an earlier part of the letter, or more likely a reference to a previous letter, now long lost. But the third point is the most interesting, Paul says that rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard for the believers. Now, it could be a reference to the Judaizers who by their emphasis on the law take the joy out of the Christian life. That would fit with the next verse when he tells them to watch out for the "mutilators of the flesh." It could also be a protection against grumbling and complaining, which he just concluded in the previous section. Clearly, an attitude of rejoicing over events (the "glad game" as Pollyanna calls it)is an effective tool to keep us from a spirit of grumbling and complaining. So, instead of working at eliminating the grumbling and complaining, I need to work at increasing the rejoicing, so as to eliminate the latter by default.
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