Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Philippians 1:1–2

Philippians is often called the “joy letter.” Isn’t that striking? When you think about joy, you probably picture freedom, laughter, and celebration—not a man in chains. And yet, this is exactly where the Apostle Paul found himself when he wrote his letter to the believers in Philippi. Around 62 AD, Paul sat under house arrest in Rome, awaiting trial, uncertain of whether he would live or die. But instead of being consumed with fear or despair, Paul filled his letter with joy.

That doesn’t even sound possible, does it? How do you talk about joy when you’re locked up? How do you write about rejoicing when your circumstances are uncertain? And yet, that’s exactly what Philippians teaches us. Paul’s joy wasn’t rooted in his freedom, his comfort, or even his safety. His joy came from Christ—and nothing could take that away.

Before we dive into the first verses of Philippians, it’s helpful to remember who Paul was writing to. Philippi was no ordinary city. It was a Roman colony—meaning it was treated as if it were a piece of Rome itself, even though it was located in Macedonia. Roman law, Roman culture, Roman privileges—all of this shaped Philippi. For the Philippians, being Roman citizens was a badge of honor. But Paul reminds them of something greater: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Their truest identity wasn’t Roman. It was Christ.

And isn’t that the heart of what we need to remember too? We can get caught up in where we live, our background, our career, or our earthly identity, but ultimately, we belong to another kingdom. We are citizens of heaven.

The Greeting That Says It All

Paul opens Philippians like this:

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1–2).

At first glance, it sounds like a simple greeting. But if you pause, there’s so much packed in these two verses.

First, Paul doesn’t introduce himself as “the Apostle Paul” or “church founder Paul” or “leader Paul.” He calls himself—and Timothy—“servants of Christ Jesus.” The Greek word here, doulos, means bondservant or slave. In Roman culture, this word was loaded with humility and even shame. Slaves had no rights of their own; they lived entirely for the will of another. And Paul embraces that identity, not as a burden but as a joy.

Think about that. Paul could have led with his authority, his achievements, or even his sacrifices. But he doesn’t. He leads with surrender. He says, “I am a servant of Jesus. That’s who I am.”

That hits me personally, because surrender is not always my first instinct. I like to make plans. I like to know where I’m headed and how things are going to turn out. But Philippians begins by reminding us that real joy is found when we lay down control and embrace being servants of Christ.

When Our Plans Get Interrupted

Years ago, I was part of a ministry that allowed me to lead people from all over the place online. Some were easy to connect with, but there was one girl I will never forget. When I first called her, I’m honestly surprised she even answered. Our first conversation was painful. Not because she was rude—but because I couldn’t get her to talk. It felt like pulling words out of a total stranger I had nothing in common with.

Ten long minutes of small talk. Awkward silence. Me trying to keep the conversation alive. I remember thinking, Well, that went nowhere. God, why am I even doing this?

But over time, I discovered common ground with her. As I mentioned that topic, she began to open up. The more we talked, the more we connected. Eventually, we became friends. And today, she’s not only one of my best friends, but I’ve had the privilege of watching her journey from knowing about God to truly knowing God.

That wasn’t my plan. I never would have expected that first awkward phone call to turn into a lifelong friendship or spiritual transformation. But God had a different plan. And His plan is always better.

Paul knew this firsthand. In Acts 16:6–10, we see how Paul’s missionary journey took a surprising turn. He wanted to go one way, but the Holy Spirit stopped him. Then he tried another direction, but again, the Spirit said no. Finally, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come over and help us.” And that’s exactly what Paul did. He obeyed. And where did that lead him? To Philippi—the very city he’s now writing to in this letter.

If Paul had insisted on his own plan, Philippi might never have heard the gospel. But because he surrendered, lives were changed forever.

How many times do we resist when God interrupts our plans? How often do we treat interruptions as annoyances instead of invitations? Paul teaches us that the Spirit’s redirection is not a detour—it’s the path.

Joy in Surrender

What I love about Philippians is how it shows us that surrender is not about losing joy—it’s about finding it. Paul, in chains, writes about joy more than any other letter. He says:

• “I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18).
• “Complete my joy by being of the same mind” (Philippians 2:2).
• “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

This isn’t surface-level happiness. This is joy born out of surrender.

In Philippians 2, Paul points to the ultimate example: Jesus.

“[Christ] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus’ humility and obedience brought about the greatest victory the world has ever seen. And Paul says that when we follow Christ’s example of humility, we too will find joy and unity.

In Philippians 4:12, Paul says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” The word he uses for being “brought low” is the same word used in Philippians 2:8 for Christ’s humility. In other words, Paul sees his suffering as a way to share in the life of Christ. And that gives him joy.

What Does This Mean for Us?

So what does this mean for us, sitting here centuries later, not in a Roman colony but in our own busy world filled with distractions, divisions, and struggles?

It means that we, too, are called to live as servants of Christ. It means our plans aren’t always going to line up with God’s plans—and that’s a good thing. It means true joy is found not in controlling life, but in surrendering it.

Think about your own story. How many times have you had your plans interrupted, only to realize later that God was directing you toward something better? How many times has what felt like a detour actually been God’s design?

When we live surrendered lives, nothing is wasted. Even our messes, even our failures, even our chains—God uses it all for eternal impact.

Paul started out as Saul, a persecutor of Christians. But one encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed everything (Acts 9). From that moment on, his life was no longer his own. He lived fully surrendered. And because of that, God used him to plant churches, disciple believers, and write much of the New Testament.

And here’s the amazing part: the same Spirit that empowered Paul lives in us. That’s our “superpower.” Not our talents, not our plans, not our willpower—but the Holy Spirit in us.

Wrapping It Up

As we step into Philippians together, remember that this isn’t just a letter from Paul to an ancient church. It’s God’s Word to us today. It’s a reminder that our identity is not in our earthly citizenship but in heaven. It’s a call to lay down our plans and embrace the joy of surrender.

When Paul greets the Philippians as a servant of Christ, he’s reminding us that the path to joy begins with humility. And when he writes from prison about rejoicing, he’s showing us that joy isn’t tied to circumstances—it’s tied to Christ.

So as we go about our own lives—whether that’s awkward phone calls, unexpected friendships, or sudden changes in direction—let’s remember Paul’s example. Let’s choose to live as servants. Let’s choose to trust God’s plan, even when it interrupts our own. And let’s choose joy, not because life is easy, but because Christ is enough.

Because when we surrender to Him, our lives—like Paul’s—will have an eternal impact.