Skip to main content

Rejoice

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

          Are there verses in Scripture that you don’t like, perhaps that make you cringe? In my mind, a pastor reads this verse, and John Belushi leaps onto a pew and shouts “Food Fight!”[1] The whole church goes berserk. Of course, that’s not what really happens. And I readily admit that other people have every reason to complain from the other direction. The pastor quotes this passage and one corner of my mouth twitches upward for 0.0362 seconds. When questioned why I’m not rejoicing, I proclaim that I did…I was…I am…and they interrupted. That’s not what really tends to happen either, but it could – and in a more polite sense, it does.

          Have you ever heard a pastor or a worship leader say something and when the audience didn’t respond, they repeated themselves or criticized the congregation for not being awake, responsive, etc.? Have you ever heard a member of the worship team complain about how hard it is to sing when the congregation sits there, stony-faced? I have. And I’ve been part of choirs and done special music, and looked out at faces that weren’t grinning. I understand how they feel, but I also understand how it feels to have someone tell you you’re not rejoicing according to their standards and if you don’t get with it, you’re disobeying God.

          I have a friend who is “thinking magnificently” about God in little morning devotionals and I agree with her. I feel guilty that I’m not waxing eloquent about what a wonderful God we have in this blog.

          So here’s my challenge to myself and to you. Take a few moments today to rejoice in the Lord. Sing along with a hymn or worship song you love. Watch the sunset, or your grandkids or whatever makes you glad that God is in your life today. Enjoy Him in it however you choose to enjoy Him.


[1] In case you forgot or never saw the movie – it’s a reference to Animal House, which celebrates all of the worst stereotypes of college frat life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more