Philippians 3:1-2,18-19 Study Nothing moves without friction. If we are going to proceed on this journey of joy, there will always be something in our path to jeopardize our destination. Circumstances and people can rob us of joy, but so can things; and it is this “thief” that Paul deals with in Philippians 3. What Paul is describing is the “spiritual mind.” In Phi. 3:18-19, he describes professed Christians who “mind earthly things,” but then in Phi. 3:20 he describes the believer with the spiritual mind, who “minds heavenly things.” You will recall that the city of Philippi was a Roman colony, a “Rome away from Rome.” In the same sense, the people of God are a colony of heaven on earth. “Our citizenship is in heaven” Phil. 3:20, and we look at earth from heaven’s point of view. This is the spiritual mind. It is easy for us to get wrapped up in “things,” not only the tangible things that we can see, but also the intangibles such as reputation, fame, achievement. Do not let the opposition steal your joy; let it strengthen your joy!