Saturday, 18th February 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: REJOICE IN THE LORD
THEME SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:1
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- Where lies your happiness or joy?
- What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?
Precious one, rejoice in the Lord.
Choose to be happy, not because of money, your job, or your reputation. Rather, be full of joy every day of your life. Apostle Paul had said so many things by the Spirit to the believers in Philippi. Then, coming to the end he says, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”. What mankind is looking for is to have joy that overflows, and where is it?
This joy that overflows is in nothing but in Christ alone.
Some have thought that by getting a lot of money they will have joy. Others thought by academic credentials and reputation they will have joy. While others thought grabbing power is the key to overflowing joy. They all got disappointed when their achievements gave them a moment of happiness and it was gone. Precious One, true joy comes from within. Rejoicing in the Lord means letting your happiness be founded on the Lord and the things of God. This is because the Lord Jesus lives in you, and you are in Him. Further, if you want the joy that is not temporal, rejoice in the Lord because it is He who is eternal.
The Holy Scriptures entreat those who seek the Lord to rejoice (1Chron 16:10 KJV). The reason is this – those who seek the Lord never want any good thing (Psalm 34:10; Psalm 40:16). Again, God’s word encourages us to rejoice in the Lord because God is our salvation (Psalm 9:14). Suggesting that you have God as your deliverer who saves you from trouble every day, including today. Why shouldn’t you rejoice in Him? Precious One, have you received the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus? If you have been born again by the word of truth you have been clothed with the highest form of righteousness. Heaven is looking down today to count God’s righteous people and you will be counted.
Is there not a cause to rejoice (Psalm 32:11)?
The Passion Translation of our theme scripture is beautiful. It says, “My beloved ones, don’t ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus”. ‘Don’t ever limit it’, meaning if you are not having joy at any point in your life, it is you who has limited it. How do we place limitations on our joy? For instance, some Christians have a preconceived notion that when they marry, then they will have joy. By this notion, they have removed the Lord Jesus from being the foundation of their joy and replaced Him with marriage. They have replaced that which is eternal with that which is temporal. They have picked their own pockets. No wonder they marry and the joy is short-lived. Others have tied their joy to a million-dollar bank account and because the million dollars is not coming their joy has been curtailed. Others it is career or academic certificate or properties. Tying your joy to these, instead of Jesus, is a big limitation on that joy.
Today, put your sorrows somewhere; it is a choice. Tell yourself that sickness, money or marriage cannot stop me from living a joyful life today.
You may not have seen your healing, or marriage or financial releases, yet you know that all things are working for your good. It is going to manifest soon and until then, you are going to ‘happy yourself’ in the Lord Jesus, who died and paid for all things for you and me. If someone should ask you today why there is a smile on your face, say to him or her, “I am so blessed I can’t be sad”.
Precious One, rejoice in the Lord. Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING – 1 Samuel 2:1-10
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Are you able to put your problems aside to sing God’s praises and show gratitude for life and His mercies?
- Can you have a cause to smile the whole of today and every other day?
CONFESSION
Thank you Precious Father for what you have made me in Christ Jesus. I affirm that you are my joy and source of happiness. I choose to be happy today and every other day because you have made me your own. Thank you for who you are and for everything. Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 29; Psalm 85; Psalm 86; Mark 14
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