Rejoice

It is our responsibility to accentuate each commandment found within the doctrine of Christ. Much attention is given to the command to worship, to sing, to love, and to be baptized, etc.. However, there is one command that I don’t hear much about. It’s the commandment to rejoice! Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation...” These statements are given in command form. As Christians, we are commanded to rejoice! To rejoice doesn’t necessarily mean to walk around laughing all the time. There’s a big difference in rejoicing and giddy irresponsibility. It’s certainly good to laugh when the occasion calls for it. However, there are other occasions which call for different displays of emotion. For example, one would not want to be caught laughing out loud during a funeral. This would be disrespectful and cold hearted. However, even during those moments of grief, we can and should rejoice. We may be saddened at the lose of a loved one. Our grief may even be more severe because the one who has died was not a Christian. But, even though our hearts are hurting because of this lose, there is also a great joy which still exists there because of our own relationship with Christ. Joy is not defined as laughter. Joy is something that is always, or at least should be always found within the heart of a Christian. Paul was a man who always rejoiced, yet he was also a man who had constant grief in his heart (Romans 9:2). It is possible! Let’s get back to the command to rejoice. Do you rejoice without ceasing? Over the years, I have come into contact with many Christians who looked and acted as if they had been sentenced to Christianity! They walk around with long faces and seem to be depressed and down all of the time. It’s almost as if when they were buried in the watery grave of baptism, they were also plunged into and endless procession of grief, depression, pain, and sorrow. I read once about a little girl who said, “That horse must be a Christian, look at how long his face is.” Does this describe you? Do you walk about through life looking as if you were weaned on a sour pickle? If so, you need to heed the command given - Rejoice without ceasing! As Christians, there are many basis for rejoicing. Our salvation, our brethren, our faith, our hope, our Lord and many other endless blessings in Christ should be enough to keep us peaceful and joyful at heart at all times. After becoming a Christian, the eunuch “Went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). If you find your life clouded over with despair and complaints, perhaps you should sit down and do as the song suggests, “Count your many blessings” (Eph. 1:3). Rejoice without ceasing!