Christians are not exempt from difficulties and problems in
life, moments of sorrow, or disappointments. Yet, God wants us to be people of
joy. "Joy" is defined as "a very glad feeling; happiness."
In our service to Jesus the Christ, despite having to face occasions in this
earthly life that are not what we would call pleasant, there is reason to have
joy! Let us take a few moments to reflect on just why all followers of the
Christ ought to be filled with joy or rejoicing. All Christians should rejoice
because:
The Lord wants us to. "Rejoice in the Lord always:
and again I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).
We have salvation in Jesus. That famous eunuch from
Ethiopia "went on his way rejoicing" because he had his sins
washed away when he was baptized into the Lord (Acts 8:39). The jailer in
Philippi did the same (Acts 16:34). Nothing in life should bring greater joy
than our salvation in the Christ!
Our names are written in heaven. When seventy of Jesus’
disciples returned to Him "with joy" because they had cast
out demons in our Lord’s name, Jesus told them, "Notwithstanding in
this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
We have the word of God to exhort, comfort, and save us.
"I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil"
(Psalm 119:162). "And these things write we unto you, that your joy
may be full" (1 John 1:4).
Trials strengthen us and help us develop patience. "My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [‘trials,’
NKJV]; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience"
(James 1:2,3).
We are privileged to suffer for Jesus. "Wherein ye
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations" (1 Peter 1:6). "But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings …" (1 Peter
4:13).
We preach the gospel and see souls being saved as a result.
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6). "… Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And
he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that
both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John
4:35,36).
We see other members of the church living faithfully to the
Lord. "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in
truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father" (2 John 4).
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth"
(3 John 4).
We see that other saints have joy in their lives. "Rejoice
with them that do rejoice" (Romans 12:15). "… the members
should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all
the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice
with it" (1 Corinthians 12:25,26).
We have the privilege to contribute to and be a part of the
Lord’s body and His work. "Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of
the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great
trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality" (2 Corinthians 8:1,2).