{"id":2711,"date":"2021-04-20T10:29:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T14:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=2711"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:04:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:04:00","slug":"kept-day-and-night-even-when-we-feel-unprotected-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=2711","title":{"rendered":"Our Highest Joy (The Joy of Being Poured Out) (Republished in the Everlasting Way)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/em> <\/em> <\/sup><\/em><\/strong><\/span>You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me (Philippians 2:17-18<\/strong> NASB).<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

The above verse is shocking. But, considering Paul\u2019s longing to be with Jesus, it\u2019s understandable. Paul was consumed with his relationship with Christ and sharing it with others. He had no fear of death because dying meant more of Jesus. In the meantime, while God delayed calling him home, he wrote to the Philippians, \u201cI shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.\u201d<\/em><\/span>[1] Joy flowing from faith, and from serving others, characterized Paul\u2019s life. As followers of Jesus, our lives can have the same markings.<\/p>\n

Being Poured Out<\/h3>\n

In the verse quoted above, Paul mentions being poured out like a drink offering. In the Old Testament, drink was poured out, along with other offerings, as sacrifice to the Lord.[2]  Paul held loosely to his life for the sake of building others up. This kind of sacrificial love was not burdensome to him, but filled his heart with a contagious joy.<\/p>\n

To follow, we too must be willing to sacrifice our lives for the sake of God\u2019s kingdom and the spreading of His love.<\/p>\n

To the Roman disciples, Paul wrote, I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

To become a disciple of Jesus, we’re to follow His example of presenting our lives for God’s purposes. Jesus put aside His rights and reputation for our sakes. He obeyed even to the point of death, pouring out His life for us.<\/p>\n

 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-9<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 example<\/h3>\n

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus washed the disciples\u2019 feet (including Judas\u2019 and Peter\u2019s, whom He knew would betray and deny Him). Afterwards, He told them, \u201cA new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.<\/em> By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.\u201d<\/em><\/span> (John 13:34-35<\/strong> NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He later promised that if we follow His example of pouring ourselves out for others, His love and His joy would be ours in abundance.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father\u2019s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you\u201d (John 15:9-12<\/strong> NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

As we abide in the love of Jesus, His love overflows from our lives to those around us. This yielding and depending on His Spirit keeps us in the experience of His love and gives us His complete joy.<\/p>\n

But following Jesus\u2019 example of being poured out for the sake of others can never happen in our own strength. Loving like Jesus is totally dependent upon His Spirit at work in us to produce fruit designed for loving others.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n

As we lay aside our own interests, were invited to join the Holy Spirit in a dance of love and joy. Rejoicing in our relationship with Jesus and the overflowing of His love for others, frees us from the need to produce our own happiness. In His strength and guidance we ask, \u201cLord, who do You want to love through me now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/h3>\n

Lord, receiving Your love and giving it away can never happen without the work of Your Spirit within me. Apart from You, I can do nothing. I don\u2019t want to get in the way anymore. I desire to pour myself out for the spreading of Your love and joy. Please keep me from focusing on my duties. May the people You bring my way be my highest priority. May I love them with Your love and share the joy of faith in You. <\/em>Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

[1] Philippians 1:25<\/p>\n

[2] Exodus 29:41, Numbers 6:17<\/p>\n

Previous posts in the series – Our Highest Joy:<\/span><\/p>\n

Unmasking the Lie<\/a><\/p>\n

Dealing with sadness and disappointment<\/a><\/p>\n

Eternal Thanksgiving<\/a><\/p>\n

Fueled by the Joy of Jesus<\/a><\/p>\n

God with Us<\/a><\/p>\n

Fixing Our Hope<\/a><\/p>\n

Remaining Cheerful<\/a><\/p>\n

Not My Will<\/a><\/p>\n

Mustering our Faith<\/a><\/p>\n

.<\/em>Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.<\/em><\/p>\n

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/em><\/span>Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the verses below, Paul writes very strange words about complete surrender and joy.<\/p>\n

What does he mean?<\/p>\n

Is this kind of sacrifice for the sake of others to be followed by all disciples?<\/p>\n

Could it be the key to complete joy?<\/p>\n

But even if I am being\u00a0poured out as a drink offering upon\u00a0the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.\u00a0\u00a0You too,\u00a0I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me (Philippians 2:17-18 NASB).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2187,1343],"tags":[1153,2195,1717,420,2188,2197,2107,2193,1355,1718,2189,2095,2017,945,170,39,1491,58,1047,1600,2192,510,1349,271,7,950,419,2194,2190,2012,1072,1095,28,1345,2196,15,630,1215,1990,81],"class_list":["post-2711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-loving-like-jesus","category-the-joy-of-serving","tag-abiding","tag-abundant-joy","tag-being-poured-out","tag-complete-joy","tag-consumed-with-jesus","tag-contagious-joy","tag-courageous","tag-depending","tag-drink-offering","tag-empty-ourselves","tag-exodus-2941","tag-experienced-joy","tag-god-with-us","tag-gods-greater-purposes","tag-gods-love","tag-gods-nearness","tag-gods-perspective","tag-gods-presence","tag-grasping-gods-love","tag-greater-purposes","tag-guidance","tag-jesus-christ","tag-john-1334-35","tag-john-159-12","tag-joy","tag-joy-in-his-presence","tag-joyful-heart","tag-love-overflowing","tag-numbers-617","tag-our-highest-joy","tag-overflowing-joy","tag-philippians-121","tag-philippians-125","tag-philippians-217-18","tag-philippians-25-9","tag-rejoicing","tag-strength","tag-strengthen-faith","tag-the-holy-spirit","tag-yielding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2711"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7992,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2711\/revisions\/7992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}