Rejoice in the Lord Always

I have been away from my blog for quite some time. These are certainly unusual times for all of us, as unprecedented steps are being taken to address the concerns associated with the COVID-19/Coronavirus that is impacting the world we live in. On more recent Sundays at my home church, during our Sunday School time, we have been looking at the words we find in the fourth chapter of the Book of Philippians. God's word is always relevant, no matter what the day or the circumstances of the time in which one may live. However, there are times when certain portions of God's word appear to be especially relevant and this certainly seems to be one of those times. With the daily counting of people dying from and/or contracting the coronavirus, to the concerns and the steps being taken to prevent its spread, we are all experiencing a way of life that is much different than anything we have seen before. There is a lot of fear, much uncertainty and many anxious thoughts. And there is very little rejoicing in our world today.       

I would like to draw your attention to Philippians 4:4. Here we read the well known admonition for the believer to "rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice". The admonition for us to "rejoice in the Lord always" appears independent of our circumstances and our feelings. In fact, there are times in a believers life that the Lord may be the only thing they can rejoice in. We can all rejoice "in the Lord", as there is never a lack of reason for rejoicing in Him! Who He is, what He has done and what He has yet promised never changes alongside everything else in our world that might do so if it hasn't already. The writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews 13:8, tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". In James 1:17, James describes our Lord as "the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." As we see the things going on in our world today, may we be reminded of, and rest in, this great truth of our unchanging God. The promises of God that you knew of last year or even last month remain steadfast and sure this day. 

May believers purpose together to rejoice in the Lord always! Please continue to pray for God's church, the Body of Christ, in this very unique time. And pray for others as the Apostle Paul admonished in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."