This year, we entered enter the “Season of Lent” with the focus of discovering what living life through the lens of Joy looks like. The book of Philippians has been our main scriptural base. Added to that, the themes in the study by Max O. Vincent, found in his book “Because Of This I Rejoice.” So far in this series we have considered: “Joyful Prayer, Joyful Witness, Joyful Humility, and Joyful Hospitality.” This brings us to today’s theme, “Joyful Asceticism.” Right away some of you just went … “What???” Well, it isn’t what images the word may have brought to mind, of monks and monasteries, and living a life separated from the world. Rather taking the meaning of this word from it Greek root, the verb askein means “to practise, to exercise, to work” So, as we look at “Joyful Asceticism” in Philippians 3, Paul is inviting us to engage in a joyful practise or exercise. But of what? Of putting nothing in our life before Jesus Christ. Be it our worries, our fears, possessions, dreams or even other relationships. Philippians 3:7-9a (NLT) 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
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