Philippians 2:19-30

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Emotions are such an important part of our lives. Sometimes I get confused and begin to think that holiness is unemotional. Or that the holy person only experiences love and peace, never any sorrow or stress. This isn't so! We've already acknowledge that the book of Philippians is Paul's happiest letter but it is filled with more than joy. A whole range of emotions are expressed in it. Just look at this week's passage and list the emotions expressed there.

Philippians 2:19-30

Hope, cheered, confident, longs for, distressed, sorrow upon sorrow, eager, anxiety, joy... These are some of the emotions I see in this passage. They are heights and depths of feeling based on life circumstances within the community of faith.

I've talked to many Christians who have struggled to integrate their emotional life and their faith. Although this passage may not give us direct instruction on how to do that, it encourages us to believe it is possible to be fully alive in Christ and fully feeling! We do not have to deny our feelings to follow Christ. We may have to question them, put limits on them, not fully to submit to them, and make choices by faith not our feelings .... but we are free to feel them in the presence of God and His people.

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