Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice! Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near (Philippians 4:4-5).
It
is rather amazing the way circumstances can enhance credibility. It would be one thing to hear “rejoice
always” from someone living in plenty, comfort and great health. It is a different thing altogether to hear it
from someone living in circumstances that would test and challenge us all. At
the time of this writing Paul was not in good circumstances. He had been in worse ones, but Roman
imprisonment was no picnic, and if conditions on the inside weren’t so good,
neither were some of those on the “outside” where the church was not always
being what God wanted her to be. And
yet, Paul insisted that he and others could still rejoice. They could still affirm life, or, more
accurately, they could still affirm God.
There is something about being “in the Lord” that
gives disciples a reason to rejoice even if they are hungry, even if they are
in pain, even if they are isolated, even if they are persecuted. Yes, even if they are marching to their
execution. Those problems are not the
source of some perverse type of joy.
They are just what they appear to be. They are trials—hard and
unpleasant things to endure. But if one is “in the Lord,” there is always
something bigger than those things, something more influential than those
things, something that will eventually swallow up those things in victory.
This is powerful! Simple but incredibly powerful. I always say that as disciples, we really don't know what we are dealing with here and this commentary reminds us that the Spirit will sustain us through anything. God tells us he will never give us more than we can handle, but He is able to say that because He is there to carry us through if we give it to Him!!
ReplyDeleteRejoice always...I knew this would be a difficult year (last Dec i was diagnosed with cancer and facing a year of treatments and surgeries)...I had all the emotions:mad, sad, scared, etc...this was especially hard because i had always prayed for a husband and children and i finally had been blessed with this! so...last year, you preached on 1 thess 5:16-18 and that Scripture has been my one to hold onto every day....I also love this Scripture in Phil....because of Paul's amazing example...praising and loving God even in the middle of a storm...loved the song Tommy sang yesterday by the Casting Crowns "Praise Him in the Storm". This has been a beautiful/difficult year...yet here is how good God is...I pray much more about everything; I've been humbled by losing my hair and losing my job,my energy...as of now, in april I finish chemo and I am starting to feel better each day...encouraged; looks like i will be around for a while longer! Much love, Brenda
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Tom, for using your gifts to inspire and remind us. Reading back through your list of suggested reading makes me want to get them each out and go through them again! Such incredible books with challenging and inspiring concepts!
ReplyDeleteBrenda, thanks also for your post! Thanks for sharing your heart. Very thankful that you're clinging to Him. You will be in my prayers... Hugs to you both....
Thank you, Brenda. You are an example to so many in so many ways. Thank you for sharing this.
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ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, Jacque, for your kind words. Looks like we posted at exactly the same time!!
ReplyDeleteI stepped outside to walk the dog at about 6pm last night, and above me was the most amazing blanket of clouds. The sky was just going dark and covered from East to West with ripples, like waves of water. And behind me the moon was rising, very low, very big and glowing! Seeing the sky like this I'm reminded of how great God is, he makes the whole universe spin according to his design, and he's more than capable of keeping my life in control. Somehow, even when there's trial and hardship, he's ultimately in control, we can and should rejoice in him.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom
Jeff Nelson
Much needed brother!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!