“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4. We really need exhortations to rejoice and to rejoice always! It is only fitting that we rejoice always and are thankful from our hearts because we have such a high calling and election. Everything else is of no value. In Psalm 100 it is written, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” If the living God considers us worthy of serving Him, then we should serve Him with uprightness and great joy. A lack of joy and thankfulness is the result of a lack of humility and not having received enlightened and anointed eyes of the heart so we can understand the hope we have in Christ. Eph. 1:18. It is obvious that we need to have an understanding of our hope before we can rejoice in hope. We can receive this understanding by reading God’s Word in faith and simplicity of heart. Jesus says, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20. Yes, this is really something to rejoice over. It is a shame if this joy is displaced by material things that last for only a short time. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Rom. 12:15. For most people it is more difficult to rejoice with those who are glad than to weep with those who weep. It is quite possible that the son who stayed home would have shed a few tears together with his father if they had received news of his brother’s death. However, when he heard that his brother was alive and had come home again, and that his father had prepared a great welcome feast for him, he became angry and could not rejoice together with the others at the feast. Luke 15. Saul would presumably have cried if in the beginning David had fallen in battle. But when he came home victorious, and the women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” Saul became very angry. “So Saul eyed David from that day forward. And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he was raving mad inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times.” If only Saul could have rejoiced and been glad from his heart together with the women in their song for David! Then he would have been even greater than the great king David who was anointed by God to be king. But now he was stripped of all glory and sank to the depths of humiliation and wretchedness. We are also put to the test. Can we rejoice from the heart and be glad together with those parents with whose children it is going particularly well in the spiritual realm, even when it is going badly with our own? If we can, then God will be sure to let it go well for us too. Can we rejoice from our hearts at feasts when certain friends are praised— even for things for which we should have been praised? Then heavenly harps are playing in our hearts, and the blessing over our life will constantly increase. If Cain had taken stock of his life, acknowledged his folly, and rejoiced over Abel’s sacrifice, he would not have been without peace on the earth, but he would have become a blessing together with his brother. The apostles rejoiced exceedingly, and their joy was evident in their sacrificial ministry for the others. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4. Have we experienced this joy, and is it greater than all other joy in our life? Then we are living a life of sacrifice without making demands. Then our love and care will be overwhelming and it is an indisputable fact that then we will also partake of this joy. Paul says, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you.” Col. 1:24. He did not count his life dear to himself, but he rejoiced in his sufferings and tribulations for the others, so that they might grow up and partake of the riches of the glory in the body of Christ, which is the church. How poor we are if our joy vanishes because of the many unpredictable circumstances of daily life, or if someone “rubs us the wrong way.” Paul rejoiced and was of good courage in all kinds of tribulations and persecutions. He was of the same mind as John who also rejoiced over the others’ progress and growth. Therefore he could write to the Philippians, “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” Phil. 4:1. They were his joy. “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf . . . .” Rom. 16:19. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Phil. 2:17. Oh, that we would partake of this joy more and more, because there is no other joy that is more pleasing to God. James writes, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Jas. 1:2. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:11-12. Jesus looked forward to the joy that was set before Him and patiently endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. 12:2. In Psalm 33 we are encouraged to get a ten-stringed harp and play skillfully with a shout of joy, “for the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.” In the midst of this evil world, which is full of all kinds of false propaganda, we have the Word of the Lord, which is divinely true and on which we can safely rely—because its promises are true. We can rest assured that this is really something to rejoice over. Feasts with unrighteousness are an abomination to the Lord, but righteousness and joy belong together. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above His brethren, because He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Heb. 1:9. The kingdom of God consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we have this kingdom within us, then we should also rejoice and be glad, because it is pleasing to God. “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.” Ps. 33:1-2. Many people say about themselves that they are happy and content and satisfied with things as they are in every way. However, they cannot rejoice properly in the Lord, neither can they make others thoroughly happy. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and we are in dire need of it. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”Aksel J. Smith