Be Joyful

Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice.—Philippians 4:4.

The wise man saith, "He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."—Prov. 15:15. Every believer in Jesus hath a continual feast; therefore has always reason to be of a merry heart; when he is not, he lives below his privilege, and forgets the command of his loving Lord. Though we daily experience enemies to our spiritual joy, yet none can destroy our ground of rejoicing; that is fixed as a rock, permanent as the mountains, and standeth fast for ever and ever. Paul well knew this by his own experience: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing," he describes the Christian's motto. Though with him thou art daily crying out, "O wretched man that I am," according to the flesh; yet thou hast the same reason always to thank God and rejoice in Christ Jesus as Paul had: though in thyself cause for mourning and humiliation, yet continual matter of joy and rejoicing in the Lord Jesus.

Here is the wisdom of a Christian, to understand aright, and to act suitable to his character; "as having nothing in nature, yet possessing all things by grace." Being united to Jesus, in whom all fulness dwells; and "blessed with all spiritual blessings by God the Father IN him," it is therefore our sweet privilege always to rejoice in Christ Jesus. In experience, we find believing views of Jesus cause rejoicing in him. IN the Lord; mind that little word IN. The exercise of thy faith is ever to be ON thy Lord. All cause of spiritual joy is IN JESUS: our word is BELIEVE AND BE JOYFUL; If we search the scriptures, which testify of Jesus; if we dwell much in meditation on his person, his offices, his blood, his righteousness, his intercession, we shall perceive never-failing springs of joy. Day by day be looking and praying, O soul, that through the Spirit thou mayest see and maintain a comfortable knowledge and settled assurance of thy own interest in Jesus, and salvation by him. O, this will cause thee to rejoice indeed, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. So that even though the face and appearance of outward things put on a gloomy countenance to nature and sense, yet shall we be like the stedfast prophet: "Though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls." What then? Does he hang down his head like a bulrush? Does joy of heart forsake him? No, says he, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of MY salvation." Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Then let our joys abound,
And ev'ry tear be dry;
We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground,
To fairer worlds on high.

- William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, November 2