By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again…
Philippians 4:10
Joy is not the result of good news, a happy mood, feeling great, or being on ‘easy street.’ Joy is found in being rightly related to the Lord.
When the kids are sick, the pain is intense, a relationship is shattered, or the money is tight, a Christian can still rejoice in the Person of the Lord. The believer is still cleansed, forgiven, redeemed, justified, regenerated, adopted and secure in his Saviour!
When the disciples came back from a successful preaching trip, the Master told them not to rejoice that the devils were obeying them. Instead, they should rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20). One is temporary; the other permanent.
‘What?’ we might ask. ‘I can’t rejoice when the sun is shining, a prayer is answered, or I receive a blessing?’
Sure you can! Many is the time the Bible speaks of joy when Israel’s enemies were defeated, or a child was born, or a lost sheep was recovered.
But notice that when Paul received a generous offering from the Philippians, he says in verse 10 above that he ‘rejoiced in the Lord greatly’! His joy was not in the coins placed in his hands, but in the Lord who had supplied the friends who gave of their coins.
The Lord should be central to my joy. Praise Him for the golden sunshine. Praise Him for answering that prayer. Praise Him for the blessing bestowed.
Father, You are the source of all that I enjoy, and I thank You. I rejoice that You have given me eternal blessings that can’t be taken away, even if all the physical blessings go. Thank You that by Your grace I’m right with You. Keep my eyes on Christ, and my joy focussed on Him. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.