Rejoice in the Lord - Always !

One of my personal favorite songs is “He gave me beauty for ashes” based on Isa 61:3.

(Isa 61:3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

I greatly enjoy the expression ‘oil of joy’ as well. The bible says, “your name (Jehovah’s) is as sweet perfume (oil) poured forth”. Indeed it is. And it is only God who can take a situation of mourning and turn it forth into a shout of joy. All this springs from our experience of salvation which the holy spirit lead us into. Where would we be if we weren’t saved, and if we were not donning the robes of righteousness which Jesus gave us. He is our Jehovah Tsidkenu – the lord our righteousness. God’s purpose in all this is that we be trees of righteousness (Psalm 1) and that he be glorified through us.

Paul, when he was imprisoned (with his feet placed in stocks) found the most contrasting thing to say to his fellow believers (i.e. to all of us). A message to rejoice always – even while in chains And in case we didn’t believe it, he says “again I say Rejoice”

(Phil 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.

The real Christian looks not to the circumstance or the problem – he looks to Jesus – who is the solution to all his problems. Remember Peter when he looked at jesus and was walking on the sea, sank when he took his eyes off the lord. Paul was a man who was beset with so many persecutions and tortures (2 Cor 11:23-27) But he found the real reason for comfort – that his problems were temporary and awaiting him in eternity is Jesus.

(2Cor 4:17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

(2Cor 4:18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

Let’s looks to the lord and choose to rejoice in Christ – yes, always, as he commands us. Let’s not look to the magnitude of our problem – for greater is he who is in us than he that is in the world.

Praise the lord Jesus christ