REJOICE!
by Kathy Pegram

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)

According to the Bible, we should have joy as a constant part of our lives. I'm not speaking of happiness, but joy. Happiness comes from our circumstances, weddings, births and achievements. But our joy comes from deep down within our soul. Our joy comes from the Lord!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about what it means to be blessed and according to the Bible dictionaries, blessed means "joyous". Paul said, "to rejoice in the Lord always." Not some of the time. Not when you feel like it. But to rejoice in the Lord always!

Do you find it difficult to be joyous? Do you say with disbelief that there is no way to be joyful always? Joy is definitely not part of the world today. The newspapers, television and radio are full of doom and gloom. We thrive on the bad that's happening in the world. We are skeptical of anyone we see who is joyful. We label them as false, or fanatics, or weird. Yet, we can open up our Bible and the New Testament is full of joy! The joy of individual people, the joys of the church body, the joy in God's kingdom. And just as joy was a part of the early church, it should also be a part of our church and our lives in the day we live in now.

You may say, "Kathy, you don't know what I'm going through. You don't know my circumstances." No, I don't. But I do know that Philippians, the joy book of the Bible, was written by Paul as he sat in prison. Do you think he felt like tap dancing in his cell? I don't think so. But yet he still had the joy of the Lord.

Joy is not in possessions. Joy is the warm glow of peace that you have in your heart from knowing God. Joy is knowing that no matter what happens, or is happening in our lives, that God is in control. Satan may steal your happiness; he may place sickness on you; problems may arise that you simply do not understand; you may not get that promotion and you may not get a lot of other things as well! But, satan cannot steal your joy! Your joy comes from God!

 

Love and Prayers,
Kathy