Nov.27.01: Light For The Day - "Rejoice in Jesus Christ" We may live in a sad world, but the sad world doesn't have to live in us. -------------------- -- Psalms 32:11,33:1 "11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, O righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! 1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, O righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him." ---------------------- It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul's attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him. Several times in this letter Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. It's easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven't been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective. (LAB) It is the privilege of Christians to Rejoice in Jesus Christ, not at certain periods and at distant intervals, but at all times they may rejoice that there is a God and Saviour; they may rejoice ill the character, law, and government of God-in his promises, and in communion with him.  The Christian, therefore, may be, and should be, always a happy man. If everything else changes, yet the Lord does not change; if the sources of all other joy are dried up, yet this is not; and there is not a moment of a Christian's life in which he may not find joy in the character, law, and promises of God. (Barnes) --------------------- -- Romans 12:12 (NIV) "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -- Philippians 4:4-6 (NIV) "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."