Rejoicing in the Lord

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."  This isn't going to be anything lengthy or elaborate, but I want to say we are a blessed people and we have a lot to rejoice in the Lord about.  I was looking up the word "rejoice" in the Webster's Dictionary and it means to be glad and happy.  As Christians, we should be happy in the Lord.  We have so much to be thankful for.  Even though in this life we face trials and tribulations and are perplexed on every hand, we can still rejoice in the Lord.  Why? There are a multitude of reasons.  First of all, we should rejoice because we've beeen saved and our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  That's enough for a lifetime of rejoicing right there in itself.  John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Why would God ever love us to the point that he would send His son to die on the cross that we might be redeemed from sin?  There's no earthly reason why He should.  It's just the fact that God loves us and we can rejoice in the fact God loves us unconditionally.  Not only that but God has prepared for us a  mansion as John 14 tells about.  Our eternal destiny is in Heaven.  Those that are saved will spend eternity in Heaven.  We'll be praising the Lamb of God for all that he's done for us.  We'll be praising God because He's worthy to be praised.  That's something to rejoice in.

There are so many reasons that we should rejoice.  I probably couldn't begin to name them.  Not only should we rejoice in salvation and Heaven, but we can rejoice in the people God's brought in our lives.  God's given us earthly mothers and fathers who so love us dearly.   Our mothers and fathers provided for us and took care of us when we weren't able to fend for ourselves.  They took us to the House of God so we could worship the Lord and hear the preaching of the Word of God.  They sacrificed for us and gave us their very best simply because they loved us.  Those that lived in a Godly home had a goodly heritage.  There have been many parents that have prayed and wept for their children before the Lord.  God's answered their prayers and God's saved their children and used them for great things in the work of God.  God's good to us.  God has also given us the household of faith in which we have the brethren in whom we can fellowship with.  God says we are to love the brethren.  I'm thankful we have a group of people in the House of God whom we can fellowship with and share our burdens with.  I'm also thankful for the pastor God's given us.  God's placed a pastor in the House of God so he can lead and guide the flock of God.  Where would we be without the leadership of  a pastor?  I couldn't begin to imagine.

I'm also thankful for America and how God's bountifully blessed this nation.  When I compare this great nation in comparison with other nations around the world, I have much to be thankful for.  There are numerous countries that don't enjoy the freedom that we so far enjoy.  The way things are headed, America is quickly losing it's freedoms, but as of right now America's still the greatest country on the face of the eath and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.  When I take a look at America over the last several decades and see the innovation that's taken place in the advancement in so many areas of our country such as technology, many of the comforts of life we enjoy, we have so much to rejoice in.  I agree the comforts of life don't bring happiness to man.  However, when I see all the conveniences we enjoy in this life today it shows me we have a great God who's mindful of us.  We have so much to be grateful for and rejoice in.  These are just a few things that we as God's people can rejoice in.  I hope you have a great Lord's Day.