Nougat 17

Isn’t it ironic that many people would scoff at a person who is always joyful. It would be assumed that s/he is fake and possibly very naive. Some people would try to manipulate the joyous one and perhaps even watch for something terrible to happen to ‘see’ whether the person would be less than joyful. It is somewhat challenging for us to chew on today’s Holy Nougat

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, I know – context is everything! And with this framed in the greater narrative of a church squabble, it’s convenient to ignore Paul’s directive. We can argue that it’s about the two women’s argument that required Paul’s intervention. And that’s absolutely true.

But the directive is very clear about the Source and Reason for joy – the Lord! And that’s a game changer. For rejoicing in our Lord Jesus Christ means that we shift our focus from the disappointments, burdens, opposition, fear and pain to the One Who knows us best. It also presumes that we recognize the merit in Jesus’ mandate from the Mount (of Olives), to first seek God’s Kingdom (Heaven) and God’s righteous ways (Matthew 6).

Rejoicing in Jesus is freeing. I am just seeing in my mind how rejoicing in the Lord helps lose the weight of the world, reduces stress and improves our disposition and looks. It accepts God’s love for what it is, recognizing that God’s the best things that everyone happened to us and chooses to love God back with everything we have. In choosing to see Jesus’ side, we open endless possibilities to joy and peace.

Might I challenge us to choose to be joyful in the Lord?

—

May all we seek be found in Christ