By David Phillps
The Command to Rejoice
Have you ever given much thought to the fact that God has commanded us to rejoice? No? Well, me either. At least not as much as I should have. Many would probably say that rejoicing is something we should do on those occasions when we feel good, and everything is going our way. How’s that working out for you? The fact is that rejoicing doesn’t have anything to do with feelings, neither are favorable circumstances a controlling factor.
A glance at a few verses of scripture may be surprising as to the status that God gives to rejoicing.
- In Deuteronomy 12:7, God gives His people the command to rejoice in connection with worship, especially noting all that God has blessed them with.
- In Matthew 5:11-12, we are told that we should rejoice and be glad if we are persecuted on the Lord’s account, because our reward is great in heaven. In this connection, Acts 5:41 tells us that the disciples of the early church rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 1 Peter 4:13 elaborates on the same subject.
- In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples to …rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.
- Note what 1 Peter 1:8-9 says about rejoicing and Jesus: Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
- Be sure to check out Romans 12:15, the single verse that some say contains both the hardest and the easiest instruction to obey: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
These verses cited are not just “mild suggestions” as some seem to think, but rather instruction given to us to follow. We are not forbidden from being angry from time to time (Eph.4:26), nor from sadness and weeping (Jn.11:35), but we are commanded to be characterized by rejoicing. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Rejoicing leaves no room for …enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying…and things like these, (Galatians 5:20-21). A couple of those items on that list are pretty common with some folks I know. …jealousy…envying… These are likely two of the most prominent sins of our time, and in the life of one who claims to be a Christian, they make it impossible to rejoice. Benjamin Franklin is said to have stated, “It is the eyes of other people that ruin us – if all but myself were blind, I should want neither fine clothes, fine house nor fine furniture.”
I’m afraid he has a point. Rejoice…