To be glad, take delight, to make joyful, to gladden!Philippians 4:4; we are called to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice and there is absolutely no reason why we cannot do that. We aren’t called to rejoice in our circumstances, our tests, our trials or our tears and temptations but to rejoice in the One who brings them to us for His good purposes and which work for our good. Certainly He gives us temporal reasons to rejoice as well, the birth of a new child for instance, the love of family and friends, reconciliations and even the rain that He sends us from heaven. But rejoicing in Him is different isn't it? He isn't temporal, He is the Alpha and Omega, He is Jesus, the same today, yesterday and forever! 

I was blessed most recently to attend a Gospel conference in Kentucky with a dear friend in Christ and we rejoiced exceedingly because we were pointed to that very One! I was reminded of Luke 24:32 “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, while he opened to us the scriptures”? It’s a perfect description of hearing the Gospel proclaimed by faithful men whose life’s calling is to preach it because they love it! Nothing stirs the heart more than the love of Christ Jesus. 

We didn’t rejoice in ourselves or the things of this life but we rejoiced together in the Lord our righteousness and our redemption by His blood. We rejoiced together that by His work our names are written forever in the Lamb’s book of life and that His electing love is from everlasting to everlasting and nothing can separate us from it. We weren’t pointed to our circumstances or our frames but we were reminded of the firm ground and foundation upon which we stand in common, therefore we always have reason to rejoice together as believers. We met new friends, hugged familiar ones and rejoiced together. What a blessed time it was! 

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8 

I pray you are rejoicing in Him this day!

Grace and Peace!