Jun 03 2006
Rejoice in the Lord
Living in the South, meals are not just a time to eat, but also a time to fellowship with friends and family. Sometimes the food is good and sometimes it is not.
While overseas, we eat MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), a staple diet of military personnel. The entrees are actually really good. The meals contain an ample supply of proteins, carbohydrates and calories to sustain you through the day. The meal kits also contain packets of crackers, cheese, peanut butter and salsa. In the Army, soldiers take all these extras, mix it together and chow down on what they call Ranger stew.
Life is very much like this—some good and some bad. We enjoy times of tremendous blessings and joy, while at other times we experience equally tremendous sorrow and disappointment.
The real tragedy is when we allow the heartaches and difficult times to consume us and block out the good that is around us. We reach a point after awhile where we drag through life just trying to survive and do the best we can, anyway we can.
God is clear in His word when he commands us in Philippians 4:4 to:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
This is not an option. His word does not say to rejoice when life is full of wonder, excitement and happiness. Read the Scripture again, but this time focus upon what we are to rejoice in. It is not our circumstances, not the difficult time we are going through and not the pain we are feeling. We are to rejoice in the Lord. When we cannot see beyond our troubles to rejoice, then simply rejoice in who God is…sovereign, holy, faithful, ever-present and the very definition of love.
I encourage you to dedicate the rest of your life to making it a victory for Jesus Christ.