Do You Rejoice in the Lord?

© 2018 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

This morning my memory was stirred by my dear wife, Kathy.  We had just received correspondence from a now elderly Christian lady.  She was a young lady when we both knew her as one of Kathy’s Sunday School teachers.  In her correspondence, she referenced a musical selection entitled “Rejoice in the Lord.”

As we contemplated this music, Kathy reminded me that we had selected it for our youngest child’s  funeral.  He had been with us for only seven months.  Immediately after birth, he was placed in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU) of the hospital.

I sometimes hear folks express anger toward God.  They ask questions like, “How can a loving God allow something like this to happen?”  However, to those He knows as His own, God gives a living spirit.  Because of this, His people trust Him, even in difficult times.

Scripture records a prayer, to God, by the prophet Habakkuk.  In that prayer, Habakkuk recalls the Lord’s actions which had brought pestilence, conflicts of nations, afflictions, and other fearful events.  In response to all of this, Habakkuk recorded, “…I trembled in myself…”.  Yet, in spite of all he had seen, Habakkuk exclaimed,

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places…” (Habakkuk 3:18‑19).

How could Habakkuk rejoice in the midst of such trouble?  Only those whom God knows and claims as His own, can truly know and follow Him in such a manner.  When the Lord Jesus was here, He was preparing to shed His blood for the sins of His people.  As God the Son, He made the following wondrous statement.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)

The Apostle Paul explains why such joy comes as we follow Christ.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

To the Philippian Christians, Paul wrote,

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Has the Holy Spirit of Christ, the Lord, placed, within you, a living spirit which rejoices in Him?

.

You may leave comments for Tom & Kathy (website administrators) below.