May 2, 2023, Reflection on “Rejoice In The Lord!”

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4-7.

Each dawn brings God’s love and a renewal of our faith in the God of Redemption and His gift of Grace. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your “therefore, I will hope in Him.” Lamentation 3:22-24.

The world changes rapidly and what ‘is’ today is gone tomorrow, but we have this promise from Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Forever is a long, long time.

Reading God’s Word brings words of Hope and God’s purpose for each of us. In four words we read, Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1.

     Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:7-8.

And we ask, Why does God allow pain in our lives? Did Abraham stop to wonder the ‘why’ of God’s command to sacrifice his only son on Mount Moriah? No. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now, I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Genesis 22:11-12.

Is pain a gift? Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.

Our learning comes at all stages of life. When I fell at 91, I remember looking up at the blue sky, and asking, “What’s next, Lord?” While in rehab, while enduring pain as I walked between parallel bars, I thought about the scripture I had just read, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31. My purpose became clear: glorify God in completing rehab! Endurance in His Name is what I must do.

       Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5.

When we obey the commands of God and believe in Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by Him. Following Jesus with all our hearts and minds, we are filled with joy and peace. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9.

Pleasing God by obedience to His Commands instead of our own desires takes self-control. The Holy Spirit is who we receive when we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. What fruit does our life show when we receive the Holy Spirit? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25.

        The first three of the Fruit of the Spirit combine to make a strong beginning in living for Him: Love, Joy, and Peace! “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12.

What is an outward sign of our joy in the Lord God? He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3.

Long ago, we were created – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, He created him; male and female, He created them. Genesis 1:27. In Genesis 2:7, we find, Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Yesterday in worship we sang a hymn…and the lyrics included these: Breath of heaven, Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven!

      Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:9-10.

Joy is both a gift of God, as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and delight in His favor.

       The steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in His way; though he falls, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24. Rejoice in the Lord God, hear and obey His Word!