Thursday, March 19, 2020
Text: Matthew 28:9, “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” Read Matthew 28:1-9.
Memory Verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.
You What? Rejoice! Are you kidding me? Those are words that come out of some people’s mouth when you say rejoice. This is because due to their present situational experience or circumstances they currently going through, your encouragement to rejoice makes such people look at you like you have either gone insane or absolutely out of your mind. As in, can you not see what they going through? Within rights, some might ask you “what’s there to rejoice about?” My life is not anywhere near what’s it’s supposed to be like, I see my peers doing amazing things with their lives which according to standards I am no where near, and you tell me to rejoice? Doing that almost becomes an impossible task and the list of why people cannot feel any pinch of happiness is endless.
As hard as it may seem, the only thing God wants from us is to rejoice. The ability to rejoice in every situation is driven by the supernatural power of God and may not be easily achieved if your life is dependent only on the things you see around you in the world today.
The bible is the living word of God and is very realistic in balancing the human life as we know it. Rejoicing in the Lord does not mean the absence of emotions such as sadness and pain. Just as we see in John 11:35 where “Jesus wept” when his friend Lazarus died. We are also told to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15. In all, we are still told to rejoice always. Complicated isn’t it?
Rejoicing in the Lord always can only be achieved by full dependency on Him, not just when things are rosy, but in every situation we find ourselves. It’s being able stay composed while feeling pains or experiencing a heavy heart, it’s being able to stay focused while cumbered with fear, sorrow and grief or sour experiences life throws at us. It’s regardless of these aforementioned occurrences having complete confidence that God is sovereign and our lives are in His hands, so much that even the hairs on our heads are numbered by Him Luke 12:7.
Apostle Paul went through some really tough times that could have moved anyone from sadness to depression but he viewed his trials through the lens of the scriptures instead of attaching so much importance to them. He reacted positively through God’s grace to the negativity the world surrounding him was throwing at him. Many Christians today get totally depressed because they don’t know the purpose of God about things happening around them and as such, they cannot deal with hard times using Gods words.
Satan comes to you at those hard times and tries to do everything to make sure that you start doubting God, but our only weapon at all times is God’s undiluted word which encourages and motivates us to cast “ALL” our burdens onto Him, because He is the one who truly cares, 1 Peter 5:7.
God doesn’t want us to live in denial, but He wants us to rejoice and leave it all to Him. On this note, your responsibility is to hand it all over to God, and leave Him to do His work. While you praise Him and surrender all to him, He has His ways of working it all out because no matter the situation, He has a way of coming out on top. You might not be able to hide the emotions eating you up, but don’t dwell on negativity, ensure you keep rejoicing in the Lord.
PRAYER:
- Father, I thank you for your healing power and your charge over every situation facing me
- I manifest in your given power to operate in confidence in the days of adversity
- Thousands will fall by my right and ten thousand by my side but will not near me and my loved ones
- Forgive my iniquities Lord and let your mercy prevail over judgement
- Thank you Father and in Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.
I’m reading the YouVersion plan ‘Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel’. Check it out by clicking on the caption below.
