The Bible speaks a number of times regarding rejoicing. David once stated, “This is the day which the Lord has made ,” and then he added, “We will rejoice and be glad in it ” ( Psalm 118:24 ).
Why isn’t that just as true today as the day David wrote it? A celebrated writer once wrote, “Every new day is a miracle.” The point: “the Lord did not owe us another day, but He gave it to us.”
In the days of Nehemiah , when the people of God had combined their efforts in a great cause, they were coaxed to rejoice, and were reminded: “the joy of the Lord is your strength” ( Nehemiah 8:9-10 ). Then the people responded with great rejoicing “because they now understood the words that had been made known to them ( Nehemiah 8:12 ).
Even in the shadow the hideous cross, Jesus told the disciples, “ Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world ” ( John 16:33 ). Of course, they were not glad that Jesus had to suffer so, but were to rejoice at the happy results — their redemption (cf. Ephesians 1:7 ; Romans 3:24-25 ).
It is recorded of the early church that they “received their food with glad and generous hearts ” ( Acts 2:46 ESV ).
In the marvelous book of Philippians, we read that Paul counseled Christians to “rejoice in the Lord ” ( Philippians 3:1 ); and then a chapter later repeated, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I will say rejoice ” ( Philippians 4:4 ). The Thessalonians were instructed similarly, to “rejoice always ” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ).
What a wonderful reason Jesus gave the early disciples to rejoice when He said, “rejoice that your names are written in heaven ” ( Luke 10:20 ).
Have we ever thought that when we are told to “rejoice,” that it implies making a conscious effort to do so? Happiness is not automatic — it’s a choice!
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