Settled Gladness

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

Philippians 4:4

Paul exhorted and instructed Christians to rejoice in the LORD always, and this is significant seeing all he had suffered for the sake of Christ and the Gospel.  When Paul penned this letter he was a prisoner though he was innocent of all false accusations leveled against him.  The betrayal by false accusations of his fellow Jews, corrupt Roman governors, and constant persecution did nothing to quench the joy Paul had in Jesus.  Regardless of the circumstances of life, there is always great cause to rejoice in our LORD Jesus.

There is a positive optimism of youth that can be lost over time through disappointment, disillusionment and dashed expectations.  As people grow older, face chronic pain and process losing physical abilities, freedoms and mental acuity, attitudes and outlooks can become increasingly bitter.   This can be true concerning faithful Christians who become sour due to problems they observe in society, heresy creeping into the church, immaturity in fellow believers, or that the Rapture hasn't happened yet!  I find it delightful to see fellow believers who are facing difficult hardships and fierce opposition who, like Paul, rejoice in the LORD always with faces illuminated with joy in the LORD.  I find fellow believers like John Lennox inspirational, for when discussing matters of faith with skeptics hostile to Christ in a public forum his visage shines with joy and peace like Moses whose face glowed from being in the presence of God.

Are you a Christian who is growing increasingly grumpy with the world and others?  Have you become more militant or bold to air grievances and complaints?  In 1 Peter 4, the apostle urged believers to arm themselves with a mind determined not to spend any more time pursuing lusts of the flesh but instead doing the will of God.  He said in 1 Peter 4:3, "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries."  Following this logic, haven't we spent enough time looking for hope and encouragement in what is not Jesus?  We have spent enough time focusing on what is wrong in the church or wondering why people do not share our convictions:  how about looking to the LORD, rejoicing in fellowship with the few who attend church gatherings, and seek opportunities to encourage and edify one another in love?  Haven't we spent enough time being disillusioned by fickle folks when we should have rejoiced in God who is faithful and followed His example?

God's will is for us to rejoice in the LORD always, and may we grow in maturity, established by faith in Jesus, to have our attitude and outlook settled with gladness in God.  Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:10-11, "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  How great is our glorious God and Saviour Jesus Christ who suffered for us for the joy that was before Him!  Unlike the Pharisees who disfigured their faces to show they were fasting, may our joyful countenance in the midst of trials, opposition, and even chronic pain bring Jesus honour and praise.  God knows what you are going through, and we can rejoice in our Saviour who is with us and loves us every step of the way.