When was the last time you truly rejoiced? If you listen to people talk, most of the time, the conversations do not include rejoicing. We tend to want to talk about all the problems of life. Maybe that is because specific issues can be solved if we discuss them with others, and there is some merit to that. However, I believe we are creatures of selfishness. Talking about problems gains us more attention. Please don’t get me wrong. We are to bear one another’s burdens. We need to share for the purpose of prayer and support, but there is a missing element in most conversations that God commands. That element is rejoicing!
Over and over in scripture, we are told to rejoice. In Philippians 4:4, we are told to rejoice all the time. You may think this is a tall order that you can never achieve. When Paul penned these words, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he didn’t know your circumstances. While that may be true, it certainly doesn’t discount the command. May I remind you that when Paul wrote this book, he was in prison!
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Rejoicing is a command and a privilege. It is a mindset and attitude that needs to be cultivated. We can always rejoice that there is a God who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. We can rejoice in God’s character, in his promises to us, and in the sweet communion we can have with Him. The Lord does not change. While everything around us may be out of control, God is not out of control!
Joy is that feeling that rises within us because of what we have and are looking forward to. For a Christian, that is always Jesus. He is now present in our hearts and our future, and we will spend eternity with Him. Do you get joy from knowing you are forgiven? Do you rejoice over the love Jesus has for you and the love you have for Him? Joy is not based on the circumstances around us. While the circumstances may cause us grief, we can still have joy. We can have joy in knowing that God wants what is best for us and will work things for our good as long as we seek Him and His purpose in our lives.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
I remember when my father was facing death, the feelings I had were not happy ones. He was in pain, and my Mom was hurting deeply because her husband of 64 years was dying. However, there was much joy as we talked about where he was going. Joy in knowing we would see him again, and joy that there would be no more pain. Dad was ready to start his new life in Heaven. My Dad experienced the rejoicing in Matthew 5:12.
Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:”
We can rejoice because of all that we have in the Lord. Remember our first verse? In Philippians 4:4, we are commanded to rejoice “in the Lord!” We can always rejoice in our hearts in who God is. He never changes, and He will always forgive when we repent. He has assured us a home in Heaven when we die, and He will never turn His back on us. We have a relationship at the core of who we are. With Christ within, there is always joy!
One day, we will have our joy complete when we sit down with the Lamb at His marriage supper. We are His bride, and now we are in preparation for that day—the day when forever more we will rejoice!
Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
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