Rejoice in the Lord part 1

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice- Phil. 4:4

Rejoice, in the Greek, is an imperative of command. As a command, rejoicing for the Christian becomes an issue of obedience. If the Christian is not rejoicing in the Lord at all times, and under all circumstances, it shows that the object of his faith has ceased to be the Lord Jesus, and he has become preoccupied with the tragedies and uncertainties that surround him. His mind begins to entertain such incredulous thoughts of doubt and discouragement, rendering him impotent in all manner of rejoicing. Only when he is able to fix his eyes upon Jesus, and refocus his wandering mind on the certainty, that God, in his sovereign, predetermined will, has orchestrated this event for the sanctifying of his faith, will he be able to find true joy. Only then will he embrace the suffering of Christ and find comfort in the Father of Compassion. Then, the Christian will find that rejoicing in the Lord is not only his strength, but also his privilege. Notice that the rejoicing is in the Lord. Again, this rejoicing is made possible because of its object. The rejoicing is not in the hope that one will ever be delivered from his present circumstance. For Paul had no certainty that he would ever be brought out from his Roman cell, nor did he find time to worry over it. The apostle himself penned with his own hand just how he felt about his present circumstance, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me, and I do not know which one to choose." (Phil. 1:21-22). The attitude of the apostle is a reflection of one who finds his rejoicing in the Lord no matter his present state. For in his situation, he had the heavenly mindset that his time in prison could be used for fruitful service. He was content that deliverance from his situation may not come, save death or the return of Christ. Was his rejoicing in the chains around his feet, or the dampness and coldness of his prison cell? No, his rejoicing is in the Lord himself- for to live is Christ. With the Lord as one's focus, rejoicing is made possible in the midst of dire circumstances. The Lord of glory is able to fill the saint with a joy inexpressible and full of glory, because of the living hope that Christ has risen from the dead. This is a hope and a joy in the soul’s darkest hour and the saint’s greatest travail. The reason being is that the Christian has a Savior that has passed through the waters of despair, and has come out dry. He has walked through the flames of affliction and temptation, and has been found perfect. He has experienced the sting of betrayal, and the crushing blow of being abandoned by all whom he called his friends. He faced the cross with courage, knowing the joy that would soon be his afterward. He conquered the greatest enemy, death, showing that there was nothing in all creation that He could not subdue. Therefore, because of who Christ is and what he has done, the saint can know with absolute certainty that he will not be overcome, nor will he be swept away by whatever vexes his mortal soul.