Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
REJOICE IN THE LORD
Life is full of many ups and downs. We all go through difficult times, and during those times you may find it hard to "rejoice". The apostle Paul also knew many difficult times in his life. When Paul wrote this letter he was again in prison, possibly even awaiting execution. Yet even facing the possibility of death, Paul writes that his imprisonment has been for the purpose of furthering the Gospel. He rejoices in what the Lord has been able to do through his suffering!
When you have a problem, take it to the Lord. With child like faith leave all things in the Lord's hand. Trust in God. He has assured you that He will hear, and you can be confident that He will answer your prayers, giving you what is best for you as His child.
But the real reason to rejoice is because of what Christ has done for you. Jesus said, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven!" (Matthew 5:12). The heavenly reward is the reason you can rejoice. Heaven is the believer's reward in Christ. Paul says, "The Lord is at hand." Heaven is waiting for each of us when Jesus returns in glory, but also when God in His good grace determines the time for us to leave this earthly life. The Lord is always at hand -- your glorious future in heaven awaits. This is your gift, your reward -- not because you deserve it, but because of God's love for you!
Without Christ, we are in big trouble because of our sins. We have no solution for the problem of our sin. But through Christ, those who trust in Him for salvation have peace with God. Don't worry about the uncertainty of your future, because your future is certain, it is sure. You know what your future is through Christ Jesus. Through faith, peace takes the place of worry and fear about what each day might bring, so that we can "Rejoice in the Lord always!"
