The letter to the Philippians is one of the apostle Paul’s “prison letters,” which he wrote in Rome. The general theme of the letter is “christian experience.” In its concluding chapter, Paul exhorts and encourages the believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). This is a very familiar verse for many of us. To rejoice in the Lord always should be the heartfelt desire of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take note, “Rejoiceinthe Lord always.” We are to rejoice in the Lord—not in ourselves, or aspirations, or abilities, or ideas, or accomplishments, or circumstances. The Christian life is all about the Lord Jesus, not about us. We are the recipients of His love, mercy, and grace. Rejoicing in the Lord should be the aim and objective of all Christians.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice.” The word “rejoice” is a beautiful word, which means to be joyful, to be cheerful, to be pleased, to be delighted.The word “always” means “at all times; on all occasions.” This is not to say that times of discouragement, dissatisfaction, difficulty, and the like won’t come. We are imperfect human beings living in an imperfect world. However, our faith, trust, and hope are in God and our expectation is from Him. No matter what our struggles are, God, who cannot fail, will see us through. And let us remember, “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Perhaps the hymn writer Charles Wesley was inspired by Paul’s exhortation to rejoice in the Lord when he wrote this wonderful hymn:
“Rejoice, the Lord is king:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,
And triumph evermore,
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say rejoice!
(Charles Wesley, 1707-1788).
One may be tempted to ask the question, how could Paul be “joyful” and write a such a joyful letter, while he himself was incarcerated in a Roman prison in the midst of pain and suffering, Scripture records “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25).Acts 16:16-40 gives the details of Paul’s and Silas’ incarceration. No doubt, Paul had to be preoccupied with His Lord and His salvation to the extent that he counted “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Let us consider that the Lord Jesus “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The Christian life will become more God-glorifying depending where we put the emphasis. The Lord Jesus is our perfect example of this. “For the joy that was set before Him” meant so more to Him than the shame and disgrace associated with that Roman Cross.
Rejoicing in the Lord means to “delight ourselves in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4), so that when trials and the pressures of life come, we know that God will not ignore us but rather intervene for His glory, our good, and best interest. Jesus wants His joy to remain in us so that our joy may be full and complete. He said, “These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may be in you , and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11). Jesus is talking about His divine or heavenly joy that is perpetual, which no human joy can match or compete. This heavenly joy Jesus speaks of helps us to rejoice in peace and satisfaction that our salvation delivers. King David also recognized the heavenly joy when he wrote “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Thank God such wonderful and incomparable joy is available to us today.
Christian character is made possible because of our vital union with the Lord Jesus Christ and is wholly the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We note that the word “fruit” is singular, which means it is a “unified whole,” that is produced only by the Holy Spirit in our lives. (Your body is a temple the Holy Spirit within you. (1 Cor. 6:19). The believer’s life is unified in purpose and direction as opposed to life in the flesh. There are nine attributes or characteristics of this fruit. And “joy” is one of them. This shows the importance of the believer’s joy. This is indeed is real and wonderful joy. In David’s ‘psalm of penitence’, he asked the LORD “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12). O, the joy that salvation generates in our hearts.
Let us rejoice and be glad for the Lord has done so many great things for us whereof we are delighted. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart” (Psalm 32:11). We who have made Jesus Christ our choice in salvation, let us give thanks, lift high the banner of the Lord, and shout for joy. — Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933).
“Joyful, joyful, we adore You;
Hearts unfold like flowers before You,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the doors of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.”
— Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933).
It is with a deep sense of gratitude, devotion, and joy that we can worship and adore our Lord and Savior, who triumphed over sin, hell, death, and the grave. He alone is worthy to receive glory, homage and praise. Amen.