REJOICE AND BE HAPPY!

8-14-11

Every Christian faces various problems in life. There are many trials and disappointments. There will be times of sadness, sorrow, and heartaches. At times, there will be clouds instead of sunshine. Jesus faced similar problems. In His life there were, no doubt, trials and disappointments. There were times of sorrow and sadness.

    In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was sorrowful and His heart was very heavy, but His disciples who were with Him went to sleep while He was praying. A little later Judas betrayed Him! While Jesus was being "tried", all the disciples forsook Him and fled! Peter denied that he had been with Jesus or even that he knew Him (Jn. 11:35; 12:27; 13:21; Matt. 26:36-75). In spite of these things Jesus, no doubt, rejoiced and had peace (Lk. 10:21; Jn. 15:11; 14:27). Over all, Jesus was a happy man! He had joy and peace!

    In spite of the fact that we face problems and disappointments and have times of sadness, sorrow, and heartaches, over all, we should rejoice, have peace and be happy!

    The Psalmist said: "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice" (Psa. 68:3).

    Solomon said: "Happy is the man that feareth alway..." and "...he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Prov. 28:14; 29:18).

    Jesus admonished His disciples to "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad..." when they were persecuted (Matt. 5:12; Jn. 15:11; 16:22).

    We learn from Gal. 5:22 that joy and peace are fruit of the Spirit. In Rom. 14:17 the apostle Paul declared that "...the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Also read carefully, Rom. 15:13; Col. 1:11; Heb. 10:34).

    The apostle Peter teaches us to be joyful and happy! In 1 Pet. 4:13,14 he said: "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you..." (see 1 Pet. 3:14; 2 Pet. 1:6-8).

    We are commanded to rejoice! Paul said: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord..." and "Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 3:1; 4:4; Rom. 12:15).

    We should rejoice and be happy because of the abundance of material blessings God has given to us (Jas. 1:17) and because of the many spiritual blessings provided for us in Christ! (Eph. 1:3).

    Are you happy? You can be!

---Carrol R. Sutton