FAITH CAPSULE: Living life by rejoicing is demonstrating trust in God.
Psalm 16
It is written, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) There is no single word in the Bible that does not call for care and well guided attention. This is the reason why the word demands to be studied and not just read or skimmed through. Apostle Paul repeatedly used the word rejoice in his speech because he knew the efficacy of the word as relevant to living life to the glory of God.
Rejoice can also be defined as joy activated. It is worth it to give this analysis a thought: Whatever a man possesses and not activated (put into action) remains dormant. For example, one that accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior accepts the reason to having joy into one’s heart. The joy accepted is not written over the forehead of the one that accepts Jesus. The only way the joy can be evident in the life of one that accepted Jesus is when joy is constantly activated by rejoicing. Again, the joy that is not activated by rejoicing is same as one lacking joy. When Angel Gabriel was sent by God to deliver the favorable news to Mary, the only way for him to deliver the favorable news of joy was to first of all command Mary to rejoice. Luke 1:28, “And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” The news of joy will only settle when there is a place for rejoicing. Interesting enough, the Psalmist stated, “…In Your presence is fullness of joy…” (Psalm 16:11) “Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” (Proverbs 8:30) God cannot survive in joyless environment. Maintaining the presence of God is to remain constantly in joy by rejoicing.
Besides all His attributes that is visible around anyone that chooses to acknowledge His attributes, the Bible also testifies Him as a good God. The Psalmist described Him stating, “Good and upright is the Lord…” (Psalm 25:8) God is truly a good God that does no evil but good. With the understanding that He is a good God, living life should always be with rejoicing. Living life by rejoicing is demonstrating trust in God, knowing that He does no evil but good. Psalm 33:21 testifies, “For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” One that seeks God without rejoicing does have a need for understanding of what the word says in Psalm 70:4 “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You…” In truth there is no assessable way to gaining His presence without rejoicing.
Prayer for today: Today, rejoice by praising God with song and magnifying Him with thanks giving.