RPG Adults
BE JOYFUL!
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 11
Philippians 4:4-7
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
“Rejoice in the Lord alway…”
BE JOYFUL!
In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul gave a series of imperatives to instruct the Philippian Christians on how they could find peace and joy in the Lord amidst the conflicts all around them. These exhortations come by way of commands that require effort on our part to achieve.
The first command is that we must endeavour to rejoice continually in the Lord. It is repeated for emphasis – “and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4)! It was certainly not a new idea that Paul raised here, for it had been a major theme of this epistle to the Philippians. He himself had set the example of having this abiding joy despite his circumstances, and now he instructed the Christians at Philippi to do likewise.
If we think about it, Christians alone have every reason to be joyful, for it is a rejoicing that is “in the Lord.” We have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins have been forgiven and we have the glorious hope of heaven and eternity to look forward to. Presently, we have confidence in a sovereign, loving God who has promised to take care of us. We know what our purpose in this life is – to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. These are all precious truths that we must hold dear to our hearts. We know that as long as we are in Christ, there is always a cause for rejoicing.
Note also that the rejoicing is in the Lord, and not in other things. Many a time, our emotions and outlook on life are much affected by the changing circumstances around us. When things are going well, it is easy to have a happy demeanour and a joyous disposition. However, when things do not go our way, or when tragedy strikes, our whole world comes crashing down, and we cannot feel joy in our lives.
No matter what happens, we must remember the promises of God, that He is in control, and that there is always a reason for why things happen. As Christians, we always have a reason to rejoice. It might not be the excited exuberance of a child in a toy store, but we can have the calm, abiding confidence in the Lord, rejoicing always in His goodness.
THOUGHT: Can I rejoice in the Lord if I am not walking in the Lord?
PRAYER: Father, help me to rejoice always in Thee!