Nov
12
Rejoice!
Filed Under Devotional
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
This is a tough task. It’s hard to rejoice all the time. I used to think it was hard to rejoice when things are hard. Now I know that the hard times are not when you’re vulnerable. It’s the comfortable times when you slip up. It’s the times when you’re coasting that you forget to rejoice in God.
Last Sunday, four middle-aged guys sat in the row in front of my family. My first impression was that I would have expected to see them walking out of a tavern rather than sitting in church, but I was glad they came. After introducing themselves, I gradually picked up that these guys had probably met at an addiction support group hosted by another church. One fellow had invited the other three because he had heard good things about our pastor. They all seemed genuinely excited to be there and I guessed they were all new Christians.
I was humbled by the pure joy they had in just hanging out together, worshipping God, and listening intently to the message. They greeted us with bear hugs. They sang loudly. They prayed vigorously. They could barely contain themselves. I was challenged in regards to my own joy. Was mine so obvious and overflowing? Would others grin in spite of themselves like we were while watching them?
I love watching the exuberance and enthusiasm in new Christians. It reminds me of what I should be feeling.
I found out later that one of those guys gave his life to Christ right after the service in the prayer room. Now I was really humbled. They all had more energy than I did and at least one of them hadn’t even been saved at that moment! Who was I to say I had achieved anything worth bragging about in my walk?
“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9
I’m digging for that joy again. I will rejoice in the Lord always (or, at least, more often).
Rejoice!