“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4                         

Scripture reading: Philippians 4:1-23

Do you know Christian joy?  Do God’s promises give you strength in the midst of life’s challenges? Are you discouraged?  Is your life seemingly adrift? 

Focusing on the joy of the Lord will help.

Be encouraged by these words from Octavious Winslow: The religion of Christ is the religion of joy. Christ came to take away our sins, to roll off our curse, to unbind our chains, to open our prison house, to cancel our debt; in a word, to give us the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 

Is this not joy? Where can we find a joy so real, so deep, so pure, so lasting? There is every element of joy—deep, ecstatic, satisfying, sanctifying joy—in the gospel of Christ. The believer in Jesus is essentially a happy man. The child of God is, from necessity, a joyful man. His sins are forgiven, his soul is justified, his person is adopted, his trials are blessings, his conflicts are victories, his death is immortality, his future is a heaven inconceivable, unthought of, untold, and endless blessedness. With such a God, such a Saviour, and such a hope, is he not, ought he not to be a joyful man?

Suggestions for prayer

Ask the LORD to help us focus on the joy of our salvation.

Rev. Peter Vellenga is presently serving as itinerant preacher waiting upon Lord for continued assignment.