Rejoice and Be Gentle to All
Rejoice and be Gentle to All
There is true biblical joy. Our God is a joyful God so are/should His Children. We are not talking about joy as an emotion but joy as the essence of our being. Joy cannot be made up. Joy is in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We are being asked to rejoice and not to make up joy.
True joy is exemplified when I visited a friend in the hospital and I walked out more encouraged than I came in. Why? Because Christ in her spoke encouragement that transcends her current situation of finalities of life in a hospital room. Apostle Paul to the Philippians restates the theme of his letter:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5. God will finish the good work He started in us until Jesus returns.
Our rejoicing is in the Lord. This chapter starts off with the word “therefore” meaning everything in Philippians 4 is predicated on the “therefore”. We are to rejoice in the Lord because our citizenship is in heaven, Jesus is coming soon and we will get a glorified body like Jesus. It calls for joy and rejoicing.
Let’s know where our joy comes from. The joy of the Lord is our strength. God has joy in us and delights in us. His joy is our joy. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” James 1:2
Paul rejoiced. He is not telling us to do what he has not done. Listen to some of his joys.
“17 But even if I am being poured out as a [d]drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me” Phil 2:17. Being poured out with his death in sight.
“24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I [i]supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. Col 1:24
Apostle Peter echoes Paul: “13 But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.” 1 Peter 4:13. Suffering actually calls for joy because we are sure that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us.
You can see that joy and rejoicing in the Lord transcends happiness and good times. There is joy in all situations because the person of Joy is in us.
The Lord Jesus Himself said it best: 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33. What is your tribulation and distress of today? Cheer up in Jesus.
We have every reason to be joyful and for the right reasons. Rejoice because your names are written in heaven Jesus told His disciple after a successful mission. Rejoice not so much for success but you have a relationship with Almighty God. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
With all that is going for us a believers, we are to be the most gentle – gracious, patient, tolerant, unselfish, kind and loving to all people. People should know us because of God’s Spirit that is in us.
We learn from Jesus and relate to others: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls”. Matthew 11:29. Let’s spoil people with our “gentle” not “gentile” spirit.
Are you known by your gentleness or by your brashness? Are you a “sand paper” to people as they encounter you – always looking for faults and something to make right in them before you can relate to them? Even Christ loved us while we were yet sinners. Can you and I give people grace and allow God to work with them as He worked with us? “Gentle to all people” and not just some.
When you can’t rejoice for who you are in Christ, it is very hard to forgive others because you are only looking for what they have done to you. When we look at what we have done to Jesus thru our sins (which He has forgiven forever), we will never be bitter but ever rejoicing, and gentle to all.
Rejoice! the “Lord is coming soon”. Are you eagerly waiting for His return? That is enough to Rejoice again and again. Come Lord Jesus Come! Amen.
Be cheered up by this song “The Joy of the Lord” – Rend Collective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI
There is true biblical joy. Our God is a joyful God so are/should His Children. We are not talking about joy as an emotion but joy as the essence of our being. Joy cannot be made up. Joy is in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We are being asked to rejoice and not to make up joy.
True joy is exemplified when I visited a friend in the hospital and I walked out more encouraged than I came in. Why? Because Christ in her spoke encouragement that transcends her current situation of finalities of life in a hospital room. Apostle Paul to the Philippians restates the theme of his letter:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5. God will finish the good work He started in us until Jesus returns.
Our rejoicing is in the Lord. This chapter starts off with the word “therefore” meaning everything in Philippians 4 is predicated on the “therefore”. We are to rejoice in the Lord because our citizenship is in heaven, Jesus is coming soon and we will get a glorified body like Jesus. It calls for joy and rejoicing.
Let’s know where our joy comes from. The joy of the Lord is our strength. God has joy in us and delights in us. His joy is our joy. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” James 1:2
Paul rejoiced. He is not telling us to do what he has not done. Listen to some of his joys.
“17 But even if I am being poured out as a [d]drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me” Phil 2:17. Being poured out with his death in sight.
“24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I [i]supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. Col 1:24
Apostle Peter echoes Paul: “13 But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.” 1 Peter 4:13. Suffering actually calls for joy because we are sure that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us.
You can see that joy and rejoicing in the Lord transcends happiness and good times. There is joy in all situations because the person of Joy is in us.
The Lord Jesus Himself said it best: 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33. What is your tribulation and distress of today? Cheer up in Jesus.
We have every reason to be joyful and for the right reasons. Rejoice because your names are written in heaven Jesus told His disciple after a successful mission. Rejoice not so much for success but you have a relationship with Almighty God. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
With all that is going for us a believers, we are to be the most gentle – gracious, patient, tolerant, unselfish, kind and loving to all people. People should know us because of God’s Spirit that is in us.
We learn from Jesus and relate to others: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls”. Matthew 11:29. Let’s spoil people with our “gentle” not “gentile” spirit.
Are you known by your gentleness or by your brashness? Are you a “sand paper” to people as they encounter you – always looking for faults and something to make right in them before you can relate to them? Even Christ loved us while we were yet sinners. Can you and I give people grace and allow God to work with them as He worked with us? “Gentle to all people” and not just some.
When you can’t rejoice for who you are in Christ, it is very hard to forgive others because you are only looking for what they have done to you. When we look at what we have done to Jesus thru our sins (which He has forgiven forever), we will never be bitter but ever rejoicing, and gentle to all.
Rejoice! the “Lord is coming soon”. Are you eagerly waiting for His return? That is enough to Rejoice again and again. Come Lord Jesus Come! Amen.
Be cheered up by this song “The Joy of the Lord” – Rend Collective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI
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