Rejoicing in the LORD Always

A hit song by Bobby McFerrin in the 80's repeated the phrase, "Don't worry, be happy!"  Perhaps the sentiment could be equated with the Aussie standby "No worries" or Disney's "Hakuna Matata" from the Lion King movie.  It suggests a change of mind and focus, that instead of fretting over circumstances out of our control we simply choose happiness instead.  While we can agree worrying can't change our situation, the pursuit of happy feelings is often futile.  The idea worrying and happiness cannot co-exist to some degree is unfounded, for the happiest people endure worrying times.

I am reminded of an approach different to the McFerrin's lyrics by Paul's words in the book of Philippians.  This letter was written from prison where he had been wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for years and said in Philippians 4:4:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Rejoicing in the LORD is very different from being "happy."  Happiness often depends on what happens, but regardless of the circumstances of life we always have great cause to rejoice in the LORD.  God is worthy of all honour, glory, and praise, the sovereign KING over all for eternity who loves us!  A fruit of the Spirit is joy, so not only is God worthy of being perpetually celebrated but supplies fullness of joy to our lives.  God works in us to both will and do His good pleasure, and Paul directs us to rejoice in the LORD always.

Jesus modeled and taught His followers that instead of worrying we ought to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all we need will be added to us.  It feels good to be happy when it lasts, but the huge pitfall of seeking happiness is it is self-focused.  Solomon used his great wealth and power to pursue happiness and fulfillment but he ended up empty.  It is ironic narcissistic people who seek happiness tend to be overwhelmingly dissatisfied.  Paul clues all in on a key to overcoming worry in Philippians 4:6-8:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

The one who rejoices in God always is to pray to God instead of worrying.  The focus is to be on God, not the situation or even how bad we feel.  There is one startling omission from what we might expect in verse 8:  there is not one mention of self.  None of us can rise to the standard God has set concerning truth, nobility, or being absolutely just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, or praiseworthy.  Rejoicing in God, praying to God, thinking about God, that is the place we who naturally worry discover enduring peace and security.

The Power of Christ

We like the promise of a sure thing, don't we?  Unknowns and uncertainties weigh upon our minds and can paralyse us with worry, fear, and frustration.  We like guarantees even when the assurance provided by a seller may not be worth the paper it is written on.  As our experiences stack up over the years there is likely a growing list of occasions we have been cheated, lied to, and taken advantage of.  All this works to make us cynical and skeptical of finding honesty and fairness in the world.  When we walk by sight this jaded perspective can cloud our view of God and undermine faith in Him.

It has been quipped the only things you can count on in life is death and taxes, but in reality there could be much added to the list:  in this world are liars, cheaters, hypocrites, thieves, and unscrupulous, greedy people.  But I am glad to say there is one Being we can count on who alone is greater than all the evil the world can conjure up:  God!  We can count on God's goodness, love, grace, and provision in all circumstances of life.  Claims of a "cure-all" drug or tonic rightly should be met with skepticism, but God has proven He is a Saviour of all who trust in Him.  Christians can have the absolute confidence of a young child in his father's strength because Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death by His death and resurrection.  He has without fail provided forgiveness and eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Some Christians place a great deal of emphasis on the fact Jesus healed all who were brought to Him to assert God's will is all can be immediately healed of their infirmities:  if we continue to suffer from a condition or deformity it is likely because we have not adequately placed faith in God.  Now it is true Jesus healed all brought to Him, and I believe it is God's will to heal.  But I believe Jesus healed all to show there was no malady, illness, or condition beyond His power to heal--not to say in every case He will bring immediate physical healing.  It is evident there are things God allows on earth which were never His will:  sin, disease, and death.  God is not willing any should perish but there are many who do.  God is able to redeem even a most awful thing like the crucifixion of the righteous Son of God to accomplish His good purposes.

God provides a great blessing to us by the unknowns in this life because they drive us to despair or to trust Him more.  Because they failed to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan God allowed them to remain to test His people, to see if they would trust and obey Him or not.  He compared the enemies He allowed to dwell among them as "snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish..." (Joshua 23:13).  God allowed a "messenger of Satan," a spiritual entity to buffet Paul, and he prayed it would depart from him.  It may be a shock to us God would say "No" to Paul three times, but God had His own purposes behind it.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 relates, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

In everything God allows His grace is sufficient for us.  We prefer to immediately remove what we perceive to be the source of discomfort, to be physically healed, to be delivered from messengers of Satan, but sometimes for His own reasons God lovingly declines.  It was in the season of pain and certainty of difficulty the power of Christ rested upon Paul.  Isn't that a worthy trade in our favour, to be permitted to suffer what we know God could heal or drive away in an instant so we might walk in God's grace, increased faith, and the power of Christ?  Do you see it?  Jesus Christ is the only One we can count on, our only Refuge, the only path to healing, deliverance, and eternal life.  Righteous Job said of God, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him..." (Job 13:15).  Let us boldly come before God's throne room of grace to seek Him and the healing only He can supply, believing He will ultimately do so, leaving the timing of the thing to Him.  In the meantime may we walk in the power of Christ and have all confidence in our great God, the Saviour and lover of our souls.

The Satanic Will

During my youth there was a rise of overt satanism.  Occult symbols and practices were expressed in children's cartoons and there were reports of cats being used as sacrifices.  Satanic imagery was employed in artwork and lyrics of rock musicians which shocked the conservative public.  A personal example is when my family arrived early to church on a Sunday morning to find large pentagrams etched onto the doors of the building and also discovered "666" carved by vandals on the communion table.  Though the sensational reports of satanic activity these days is rare, Satan continues to lie, steal, and destroy.

I was reminded of this reality when I read a passage of scripture toward the end of King David's life in 1 Kings 1:5:  "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him."  Like Absalom his brother before him, Adonijah the son of David proudly exalted himself and declared, "I will be king."  He felt entitled to the kingdom of Israel.  The tone of his statement bears a striking resemblance to Lucifer's claim (also called Satan or the devil, among other names) in Isaiah 14:12-15:  "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! ¹³ For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' ¹⁵ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit."

God created Lucifer perfect yet pride was found in him that asserted, "I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne; I will be like the Most High!"  One of the modern satanic maxims taps directly into this satanic will:  "Do what thou wilt shalt be the whole of the Law."  Don't we live in an age which exalts self, which urges people to follow their hearts, to do or be whoever they want to be--without acknowledgement of God or humility before Him?  James exposed the wickedness in boastfully asserting our will without faith and submission to God in James 4:13-17:  "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil."  Boasting isn't just the tone we use but relates to sinful motives in our hearts.

James followed the example of Jesus Christ who did not rail upon the sins in the world but exhorted people to personally repent for their own sin, pride, and boasting.  James wrote to believers who needed correction from a self-willed perspective so they might repent of evil and adopt a humble, God-honouring one instead.  It is interesting to me James encourages people to say, "If the LORD wills, we shall live and do this or that."  This emphasises our connection to Jesus Christ through faith and the Body of Christ the church.  If we are in Christ we are never alone!  This is not to suggest Christians are obliged to speak to pastors or ministers in the church to run their plans by them for approval, but that we are in submission to God.  God is the one being Who is not presumptuous, boastful, or proud when He says, "I will!"  The satanic "I will" is a subtle (or not so subtle!) way of playing God, a vain boast we ought to repent of.  We should choose instead to humble ourselves before God like Jesus:  "Not my will but Yours be done."

Showers of Grace

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

Matthew 5:43-45

People across Sydney and much of Australia awakened this morning praising God for the rain that has come to our dry land.  This soaking rain has been predicted to remain for at least a week and will provide much needed relief from bushfires, smoke, and high heat coupled with drought conditions.  For months now I have been praying for rain and it is a blessing to see God answer the requests of many toward this refreshing end.

Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies, doing good to those who hate them, and pray for those who spitefully use them.  The reason given for this is based upon the example of God who makes the sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.  People across the globe are benefactors of God's goodness, grace, and generous provision who do not acknowledge or thank Him.  Australia is called by many "the lucky country" and do not ascribe glory to God for the richness of the land He has provided for us.  Yet even on avowed enemies of God He has sent an abundance of rain today we all desperately need:  fires are burning, dams are at the lowest level in over a decade, and because of water restrictions our gardens and lawns are dry.

If we are born again children of God through faith in Jesus, then our acts can and ought to reflect His love and grace.  On people who walk in darkness He allows the sun to shine and the Light of the World Jesus Christ has been sent to save them.  Sydney is known to have scattered showers which drench one area and another remains dry.  God has the power to withhold rain and to cause it to fall, but let us not think any of us deserve His blessings because of our goodness or our relation to Him:  all we have received is of grace.  God answers our prayers for rain with showers from heaven because He is gracious, not because He owes us anything.  God is compassionate and gracious to all, commanding rain to fall on the just and unjust because He is good, faithful, and delights in mercy.