Rejoice Week 2, 2012

“Ah what kind of a year is this? I thought 2011 had gone with its woes but this one is hitting me.” Why is your face frowning like so? You want to break the skin of your forehead. “Look this is not a laughing matter at all; no jokes about it. I counted my teeth with my tongue in December so as not to get in debt but this fuel price is really crushing. Everything is just getting costlier and how to cope I don’t know for sure; these are bad times.”Ah I say it is a time to rejoice. Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Keep on rejoicing! Php 4:4(ISV). “I wonder how that is possible at times like this.”
My friend where is the source of your joy? If your joy is found in things and not Jesus, when things are taken you will be sorrowful. “What exactly do you mean?” Remember the rich young ruler? Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions Mat 19:21, 22(MKJV). What caused his sorrow? He was about to loose possessions whilst he should have been rejoicing; he had just been invited to own the prince of peace. On the other hand when Jesus was about to be taken away from them, then only did real disciples have sorrow. A little while and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me? Truly, truly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Jn 16:19, 20(ISV).
When Jesus is your joy and not things, even when everything is taken from you, you will still rejoice. Has Jesus been taken away? “Things are more expensive” you say; is His grace more expensive? “I am not sure how we are going to survive” you moan; is His ability to save less sure? Rejoice I say my dear. Even though the fig tree does not blossom, and there are no grapes on the vines; even if the olive harvest fails, and the fields produce nothing edible; even if the flock is snatched from the sheepfold, and there is no herd in the stalls—as for me, I will rejoice in the LORD. I will find my joy in the God who delivers me Hab 3:17, 18(ISV).
Let us use this opportunity to let our God know our joy is found in Him alone, so did the saints before us.