Rejoice!

Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

Life constantly throws those things at us that cause us to loose our joy.  But God's Word says to rejoice.  This admonition in scripture cannot be based on the circumstances of life giving us cause to rejoice.  No, we rejoice because we know Jesus!  Circumstances might be those that would bring despair, but Christians rejoice.  

As we consider rejoicing, we should stop and consider why Christians can rejoice no matter what the circumstances of life are around us.  

Persecution is a circumstance of life that affects all true believers at one point in time or another.  The Bible says:

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

These are just a few of the many places the Word tells us to rejoice.  When we are persecuted, we can rejoice because we have reward in heaven.  We can rejoice because we know that we belong to Jesus and our names are written in heaven.  And no matter how bad things get here, we look forward to the hope we have of experiencing the glory of our God.  

When the enemy comes in like a flood and your joy begins to wane, be sure to meditate on God's Word and pray.  The Holy Spirit will fill you and and the fruit of the Spirit is joy!

In Christ,
Rody