True Gospel Joy

In our passage this morning, Paul moves from instructions and imperatives (1: 27-2:4; 2:12-18) to living illustrations in 2:19-30. Timothy and Epaphroditus are humble, others-focused servants who provide a shining example of working out their salvation in practical acts of serving without grumbling (2:12-14). Joy comes when you get things in the right order. These two men love Jesus and others. We shouldn't elevate them beyond reason, but we must see them as Paul did, using them as examples worth watching, and as men worth following. Regarding imitation, we should say, "Imitate them, as they follow after the example that is in Jesus Christ" (2:5-11).