Celebrating One Another

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

(Philippians 1:3–5, ESV)

Joy is something we each want to experience. It is not merely a feeling we put on or that coincides with the circumstances in life. It is found in relationship - first with God, and second with others.

This week I had the privilege of being celebrated. My family celebrated my completion of a project I have been working on for a long time. We even found friends to celebrate with. It feels good to be celebrated, valued, rejoiced with. It brings on a rejuvenation of joy.

On Sunday, we considered Philippians 1.1-18. I encourage you to read that passage, seeing the joy Paul and Timothy experienced in their salvation / in Christ but also in their partnership / their journey with this group of believers. There was a real sense of joy in their relationship. They valued one another and celebrated the joys of one another’s lives together.

Is there a way we can do this? Do we celebrate each person we come into contact with? How are we rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn?