This Week's Bulletin Message

Rejoicing with Jesus

   The Apostle Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:4-5). It isn’t easy to always rejoice due to not celebratory situations. Yet Jesus shows us how it is possible, and it is up to us to make a concerted effort to ensure a song and a prayer remain in our hearts. Scripture tells us we are in the Lord and the Lord is at hand or nearby.  On your worst day, when it feels like the world has stopped because of the devastating nature of your trial, you are still in the Lord (celebrate), He is at hand (rejoice), and His return can come at any moment. Therefore, the spirit of gentleness and forbearance reigns in our lives.

    If you cannot think of anything to rejoice over, be happy for the Lord. What He has done for us, the world, and people daily is worthy of celebration. Souls are being saved daily, and your family in the Lord is constantly growing. People are being born-again and are becoming a part of the bride (church) of Christ. These things I mentioned appear to benefit us alone; however, God has pleasure in saving us. We can rejoice because Christ and the angels in Heaven are rejoicing (Luke 15:10).

   “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them” (Luke 12:35-37). The servants of God must be aware of the great works God is doing. We cannot allow what is happening on earth to ruin our spirit. Jesus is returning to the saved like He just returned from a wedding, happy and enthusiastically. Let our spirit match His energy when He comes. We are rejoicing before His return. When He finally comes, there will be a burst of celebration.  The catch is that we do not know when He will return. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6). Amen.

   Our rejoicing must not be fake; as you know, God is not mocked. He has given us things beyond us and eternal to lift our spirits. Rejoice in the knowledge that you are going to Heaven and the brethren.

©Courtney Henderson July 29, 2022