“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.”-Philippians 3:1
Have you noticed how each day can be so different from the next? One day, life can seem smooth and carefree. The water is so calm, so to speak. The very next day can be utterly opposite with great struggle relationally, with our jobs, at school, in our spirit. Suddenly the waters are so stormy and you might feel like you can barely hold on. Life is filled with a variety of situations, no doubt.
As Christians, as followers of Jesus, no matter what’s going on, we are to choose to rejoice in the Lord. We are wisely commanded by God to make this decision, no matter the conditions in life, to choose joy! Philippians 3:1 says, “Whatever happens,…rejoice in the Lord.” One chapter later, in Philippians 4:4, we are exhorted to, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” In another letter from the Apostle Paul, God led him to write to the church in Thessalonica, “Always be joyful” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). In other words, we are to choose to rejoice, to express happiness in the Lord, no matter what. Life has all kinds of ups and downs. We are to decide to be joyful all the time!
Why would we do that? Perhaps the better question is, how can we not rejoice in Jesus, choose joy because of Jesus? Afterall, let’s remember, Jesus died on the cross, carrying our sins in His body, so that we can be dead to sin and healed (1 Peter 2:24)! God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son into the world so we might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In Christ, we are offered a peace that the world can’t give (John 14:27). Because of Jesus, we don’t have to walk in the dark anymore, but we have the light that leads to life (John 8:12)! We now know where to find real, abundant life (John 10:10). Through Christ, we now live with great expectation, with a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Truthfully, there are countless reasons for rejoicing in the Lord, for choosing joy every single day!
This very moment is the right time to choose joy. So, let’s join in with the Psalmist who cried out long ago in Psalm 118:24 saying, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Let’s rejoice in prayer and praise, today! There’s never a time to not rejoice.
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott