Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Wow. Does it ever happen to you that God is absolutely relentless in trying to get a message through to you? Like a distant radio signal, this message started entering my consciousness weeks ago, but it has become louder and more frequent this past week. I cannot tell you how many times the above Bible verse has come to me – through sermons, podcasts, fellow bloggers, Facebook memes – in the past months. It has become like constant background music. But I think God wants it to become my theme song.
Rejoice (χαίρω) xaírō or chaírō: to delight in God's grace, literally, to experience God's grace or favor, to be conscious of or glad for His grace. Rejoice means to delight in God's grace! Actually, I found out that xaírō (glad for grace), xaris (grace), and xará (joy) "all share the same root and therefore the same core (fundamental) meaning." i
What a revelation this has been to me. To be conscious of His grace in every circumstance and to naturally respond with joy. That is so different from trying to drum up happy or thankful feelings in the midst of the tragedies of life. It never made sense to me. It seemed hollow and like I was putting on an act. It felt out of my reach. I felt condemned for not being spiritual enough. But that is not what God is asking me to do.
To rejoice always is "merely" to be conscious of His grace always. To be continually aware, thinking about how I am bathed in, swimming in, His grace. How I am upheld, supported, sustained, watched over, and blessed beyond comprehension. All he has done for me by sending Emmanuel, his Son Jesus Christ, to save us and be always with us, and his Holy Spirit to comfort and guide. All of his promises to me and his Word that cannot, will not, return void. Knowing that even if I can't see or hear him, he is with me and he has a good plan and purpose for me. In every situation, in all circumstances, God is with me. And because God is with me always, I can rejoice always.
To be continually conscious of His grace is like the Practice of the Presence of God.ii Practicing being always aware of his Presence there with me, holding me in his everlasting arms. His Presence is grace - unfailing, endless, everlasting, persistent, indestructible, unceasing, unrelenting grace. And in his Presence there is joy.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
Father, in Jesus Name, make rejoicing in you my theme song. Help me to be always conscious of your infinite, amazing grace that is for me and with me always in every circumstance.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
… for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
God's greatest expression of his grace and love for us was the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Jesus' sacrifice made the way for you to enter into the Presence of the Father. Learn how to come into His Presence and experience that grace.
i Definitions from Discovery Bible, HELPS Word-studies.
ii The Practice of the Presence of God. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1958. Read more about God's Presence here.
Photo by Sheila Bair
No comments:
Post a Comment