Loose Your Life, Invited Into Joy

The Apostle Paul had just told them that they had to have the same mind that the Lord Jesus had.  They, like the Lord, should take on the job of a slave and serve others. They should do as Jesus did and be obedient, even to death.  They should obey not grumble but stand as light in this wicked world.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

He said that he was being poured out like a drink offering   He then called it joy and invited them into the joy.  This is the abundant life that Jesus promised.  This is the joy of losing your life for Christ's sake.  This is the joy of walking close to God. This is the purpose and plan we have all been waiting for. It is also the plan we're supposed to invite others into, including our children.

Philippians 2, John 10:10, Mark 8:35Mathew 28:20, 19:14