In Matthew 5:11-12 Jesus spoke of those who would be reviled, persecuted, and falsely defamed because of following Him. He said when this happens you are blessed, indicating that you are fortunate and well off! He then went on to say, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets which were before you.” You are in good company! On the other hand if, everything seems to be going continuously like a garden of roses without thorns we ought to be concerned as Jesus teaches in Luke 6:36. In Nehemiah 8:10 the Bible says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The unique thing about the joy of the Lord is that it is not dependent on surrounding circumstances, but comes from our inner being. Jesus Himself was “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” Isaiah 53:3. He carried our pains and sickness (He took upon Himself everything that was ours because of our sin). Still He had the joy of the Lord, Luke 10:21 says “Jesus rejoiced in spirit.” Apostle Paul had every reason to be downcast, dejected, and to feel defeated; instead even while in a Roman prison he wrote the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, and rejoiced because he heard that others were preaching the gospel, Philippians 1:12-18, and in 4:4 he admonished “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.” He also instructed the Thessalonians in his first epistle to them that they should “Rejoice always” 5:16.
Rejoice
By Rose Hill
The troubles Paul faced to him weren’t so bad,
Not something to make him very sad.
He knew that he would not run in vain,
If he preached Christ the one who was slain.
As Christ suffered so Paul was willing,
He counted it joy and even thrilling.
Paul learned to always be content,
Whatever happened or wherever he went.
He encouraged his brethren to rejoice always,
And again he said rejoice all your days.
Scripture quotations are form the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.