Rejoicing? Really?
Rejoice means to brighten up, joy, cheer up! Many of us may rejoice when things are going well, but to rejoice when we see the darkness all around us?
The Apostle Paul went through much persecution, just as many Christians today are facing all around the world. And yet, Paul says in
Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
When something is repeated, it is meant to get our attention to what is being said.
But
how could he rejoice always, and how can we rejoice always, when so much evil is going on around us? Evil is everywhere we look and it tries to hit our lives and does at times.
Paul goes on to help us know how we can rejoice in the midst of darkness and havoc. Philippians 4:5-7 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Notice the word anxious which also means give thought. Nothing is NOTHING.... The answer to rejoicing is no matter what comes our way, pray and give our Lord thanks because He will see us through and give us His peace, just as He did for the Apostle Paul. We sure do not understand this, but it happens, and the Lord will put a guard over our heart and mind. This is a very wonderful promise!
Easy? Look at Apostle Paul’s life! Each of us should study his life! He came to Christ the same as we do! He was a very religious man and believed the Messiah would come, as many believe today. When it was miraculously revealed to Paul that the Messiah had come, he chose to believe! Paul’s life changed… as did ours when we believed.
When the Lord gives us instructions (like rejoice), there is no mention of easy! We are to JUST DO IT! Do what our manual for success (the Bible) says. We are to train our mind to see rejoicing as a plan of escape for us!
True joy and rejoicing are not anchored on outcomes, expectations, positive or negative results, success or failure! Our rejoicing and joy are anchored on faith in Jesus Christ alone despite the evils or events around us. When our faith is anchored in this truth, we can live a joyful victorious life no matter what is happening. This is our choice! Paul did it and gave us this wonderful truth so we can live a prosperous rejoicing life for others to see and want what we have! His name is Jesus and He rejoices over us so let’s rejoice always with HIM in all things.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing
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