Always Rejoicing

No one wants to be miserable. Everyone wants to be happy. Therefore, when Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 , "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice," even the unbeliever agrees that it is ideal when things go well so that one can rejoice. All man's efforts are directed toward making it so that man can rejoice in this vale of tears. Man wants all tears to be wiped away, and he wants to have every kind of misery banished completely. That is why man wants physicians and hospitals, amazing surgical procedures, and medications that take away pain and suffering. He is not however interested in rejoicing in the Lord. He is interested in rejoicing in wealth and health and earthly experiences that please the flesh.

However, the only way to rejoice is to rejoice in the Lord. In all our pains and woes, in all our sorrows and bereavements and fears of war, bloodshed, and frightening disease epidemics, the believer is reminded of the fact that the curse rests upon mankind because of the entrance of sin into this world. The child of God therefore agrees with Paul that there is no true rejoicing except in the Lord Jesus Christ.. His basis for this stand is that we rejoice in the Lord our God, Who sent Christ the Lord to blot out our guilt and to make us citizens in His heavenly kingdom.

Because he rejoices in the Lord, Paul speaks this way even while he is in prison, with all its miseries and all its inconveniences. He thus presents to us a beautiful example and calls us to follow him also in that way.

Heed then this call. For the serious question is, what is it in which we rejoice? Do you see Christ as your Lord? Do you rejoice in what He did on His cross? And do you look forward to what He will do the moment you die, and the moment when He returns upon the clouds of heaven to usher in the kingdom of heaven?

Rejoice in the truth that your sins are blotted out, and that our Lord comes to wipe away all tears from your eyes, and to make us joyful servants of our God in His kingdom.

Read: Revelation 21

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Jeremiah 51 ; Jeremiah 52 ; Jeremiah 53 
Titus 2:1-15 
Psalm 99:1-9 
Proverbs 26:17 
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Quote for Reflection:

"… If you are very desirous to keep a law, Christ enjoins on you a law which you are bound to prefer to all others, and that is, to cherish kindness towards each other. He who has not this has nothing. On the other hand, he tells us, that, when every one compassionately assists his neighbor, the law of Christ is ‘fulfilled’; by which he intimates that every thing which does not proceed from love is superfluous." - John Calvin