Rejoice Always

[I Thess 5:16] "Rejoice always."

This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. Two simple words. Easy to understand. Much harder to live. How could two simple words could have such profound meaning and be so hard to live out in our daily experience.

The word rejoice means to be "exceedingly glad". The word always means "continually". When you put the two together it means to be exceedingly glad continually. Day in and day out. When times are good and when times are bad we are supposed to rejoice continually. When we are blessed and when we suffer we are still called to live with a glad heart.

I know the tendency in my life is to be glad when my circumstances are good. I was challenged yesterday while studying this passage. I thought about [Acts 5:40-41]. "After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the name."

In this situation rejoicing and being glad had nothing to do with circumstances. The apostles were flogged. This means they were beaten, skinned, thrashed and smitten. There is nothing pleasant or glad about those circumstances. Yet, the apostles left the Sanhedrin after being beaten and REJOICED! That sounds impossible. People typically do not rejoice after having their backs beaten, bruised and bloodied.

This is not the only instance. Flip a few pages and you find Paul and Silas not only beaten but also shackled in dark dungeon. "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." [Acts 16:25] Once again circumstances did not dictate the gladness of Paul and Silas. While their backs were still caked with blood throbbing with pain they sang finding Jesus the reason for a glad song to well up from their souls and lips.

So the obvious question is where did these followers of Jesus get their joy? What was the source of their perpetual gladness? Get this. Jesus produced the joy and gladness in their hearts. His eternal and abundant life fueled the joy no matter what those early Christians had do endure. When blessings came they rejoiced. When sufferings came they still rejoiced.

This is a lesson we have not learned nearly as well in the Bible Belt or in this nation. We do not rejoice continually. We rejoice at times and grumble at other times. This is a lesson many have failed to master. Jesus is the joy. The simple truth is He has to be enough for us. Regardless of what we have or do not have, regardless of whether our paths are straight and smooth or rocky and uphill we are to rejoice. Jesus is the one constant source of gladness. He alone has to be enough for all of us. We often act as if He is enough as long as He makes us happy and gives us our hearts desires. The first time He doesn't we can throw a fit.

So on this Thursday morning I woke up rejoicing. Even though yesterday we thought we had sold our house. For the first time in nine months somebody made not only an offer but a cash offer. We were glad only to have the buyer reject the counter offer. I still rejoiced. We have someone leasing our house for the next twelve months starting this weekend. I would have preferred to sell the house but I rejoice that God is making a way through the lease to give us time. Regardless of my circumstances He alone; my Savior, my King, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Prince of Peace alone is the true source of joy and gladness.

Today He is still sitting sovereignly on His throne and my gladness is found in Him. So my challenge as well as yours is to rejoice always. Be exceedingly glad continually.