12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
The word rejoicing is rich with meaning. It obviously comes from the root word joy. Joy can be defined as "gladness, or exceeding gladness." While we all live in less than ideal circumstances we still have multiple reasons for rejoicing. Paul admonishes us to rejoice in the Lord always in [Phil 4:4] Here are just a few reasons why we should rejoice in hope.
1. God is the ultimate source of joy and the ultimate cause for rejoicing. Nothing in this universe can delight the soul like God. No other source known to man can produce abounding, bubbling over, infinite joy like God Himself. Psalm 16:11 (NASB)
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
In God's presence is fullness or excess and plentiful joy. C.S. Lewis wrote, "We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the affair of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
The greatest pleasure we can ever know and the ultimate joy we will ever experience is to know God and walk closely with Him. Everything else pales in comparison.
2. Christ has redeemed us.
Galatians 3:13 (NASB)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"
The word redeemed means to "To pay ransom or rescue from lost." That is what Jesus did for us. He paid our ransom on the cross for our sin. We deserved the wrath of God and eternal damnation. Through Jesus our ransom was paid and we were rescued. HALLELUJAH!
3. Through Christ we have been declared righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
I do not know how to add to this. It sums it all up. Jesus took our sin in exchange for His righteousness. Of no merit of our own we have been declared righteous before a holy God. This should be cause for endless rejoicing and forever hope.
4. Because Christ redeemed us Heaven awaits us.
Philippians 1:21 (NASB)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
The word gain in this passage means "profitable, advantageous." Can death really be looked at as joyful and in hope can we really trust death for a follower of Jesus is profitable and advantageous.
Mrs. James Roveleson certainly thought so. She and her husband were sentenced to die for their faith in 1543. Mr. Roveleson was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Mrs. Roveleson was sentenced to be drowned even though she was pregnant. Her last words to her husband pierce the soul. "Husband, rejoice for we have lived together many joyful days; but this day, in which we must die, ought to be most joyful unto us both, because we must have joy forever. Therefore, I will not bid you good night, for we shall suddenly meet with joy in the kingdom of Heaven."
That lady saw Heaven as gain. Departing from her husband and never getting the joy of holding her child were but small sacrifices for the gain she anticipated in Heaven. She thought of everlasting life as joy forever. Joy forever. How can we even wrap our mind around that concept.
5. God has granted us access to His word.
Psalm 119:50 (NASB)
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.
How often has God used the truth in the Bible to comfort, encourage, strengthen, guide, and provide hope for you in difficult days. We should never take having access to His truth for granted. We should rejoice always that those of us who have copies of the Bible can read it, meditate on it, study it, memorize it, share it, teach it, and preach it. This is another reason for rejoicing and hope.
6. We get to assemble together with other believers.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
We all need encouragement from time to time. We all need a shoulder to lean on. We all need prayer. We all need people to inspire us to keep going and to keep serving. That is what the people who make up local churches are supposed to do for one another. Thank the Lord for those people and rejoice because God put them in your life.
7. Jesus Lives.
John 20:11-18 (NASB)
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
13 And they *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She *said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
16 Jesus *said to her, "Mary!" She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).
17 Jesus *said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
13 And they *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She *said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
16 Jesus *said to her, "Mary!" She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).
17 Jesus *said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus is alive. He speaks. He listens. He works. He forgives. He loves. He redeems. He saves. All of this because He is alive. This also is reason for rejoicing and hope.We are not serving a lifeless idol. We are not involved in a dead religion. Jesus is alive. He is active. He is forever with us through life's journey. He is available for us.
Remember these things in the tough times. Remind yourself continually that Christians always have a reason to rejoice and maintain hope. I hope and pray these truths comfort you today on your journey.
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