Rejoice Always

As a follower of Jesus, we are to constantly live in a state of joy.

I thought Nate did such a great job this past weekend helping me understand how to have joy and why I often don’t.  Paul says to the church in Philippi in Philippians 4:4 that we should rejoice always, and then he says it again in the same verse.  This isn’t a peripheral theme of the New Testament, this IS the theme.  Apparently, when the Spirit takes up residence in us, joy does too.  At a practical level, how do you do that?

For the followers of Jesus, they found joy by thinking about their eternal life.  The eternal life God offers is not a source of joy for later, it is a source of joy for now.

There is a fascinating exchange between Jesus and his first seventy-two followers in Luke 10, where they realize they have the power to cast out demons.  What a gift!  They are amazed at their ability.  Notice what Jesus says to them:

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

- Luke 10:17-20

This is an odd exchange. In other words, it is great that you have the spiritual gift to cast out demons, but your real source of joy should be that you are Forever You, and a million years from now, nothing can take eternal life from you. It seems odd that we would think that way. Personally, I think I’d be more inclined to celebrate the power over the enemy. For Jesus, that is small compared to eternity with Him.

How do you rejoice always? You remind yourself constantly of your eternity. Is that set before you today?

Pastor Jared

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