The Rejoicing Heart

The Rejoicing Heart!

Is it really possible to know the depth of God's love for us?

Personally, God reveals or does certain things for me and at that moment, I am so excited and full of rejoicing at the love God has for me. And then a few days later, it would seem like that excitement has cooled off. I still know God loves me but it doesn't produce the kind of rejoicing as before. Have you ever experienced this before? I hope I am not the only one who had experienced this...lol

Rejoicing, is very important. Apostle Paul in writing to the Phillipians said:

Phillipians 4: 4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Wait! did he just say always? How can one achieve this? What would make any one rejoice even when faced with certain circumstances that are not ... exciting? Always mean that regardless of time or event or circumstance; we have to continually have a heart that is rejoicing, full of joy.

Let's look at another translation, the T4T translation says:
4  Because you have a relationship with the Lord, always rejoice! I say again, rejoice!

Now, this blows it up again, "Because you have a relationship with the Lord". This is exciting!

Here we have at least one reason why we should always be full rejoicing: Because we have a relationship with the Lord. And how do we have a relationship with Him, by accepting Him, Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour, who died for our sins and reconciled us to our heavenly Father, mediating a new covenant between the Father and all saints.

Somebody says: Okay, so yaaay! I am saved in Christ, and it is free! Am excited again and am full of rejoicing, but it doesn't last long, after some activities, like a really stressful traffic jam, I forget about the free salvation I just received. Why is this?

Well, the truth is that everyone goes through certain situations that makes one sometimes forget how blessed we are. I believe this is why Paul admonished that we have to keep our thoughts focused on only good things:

T4T translation
Phillipians 4: 8  My fellow believers, there is one more thing I want you to do. Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is right, whatever is morally pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is admirable, whatever is good, whatever deserves praise, those are the things that you should continually think about.
9  Those things that I have taught you and that you have received from me, those things that you have heard me say and that you have seen me do, those are the things that you yourselves should continually do. As a result of your doing those things, God, the one who causes us to have inner peace, will ◄be with/​bless► you.

Paul noted the things that we should think about, but we know also that what we think about comes out of the knowledge that is within us. That is, what we know, what we have been taught, influences how we think or what we think. This is why Paul in verse 9, explained to the Phillipians what they need to do to affect their thinking, he said:

9  Those things that I have taught you and that you have received from me, those things that you have heard me say and that you have seen me do, those are the things that you yourselves should continually do.

Now, we are not with the Phillipians, we only have this letter, we do not know all that Paul taught, gave, spoke, or did in the presence of the Phillipians. What we do know is this: that Paul was a man, annointed by the Holy Spirit and a man who is well versed in the scriptures, based first on his education by Gamaliel, his salvation and following baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22: 3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Titus 1
1  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.

Therefore, we also can obey Paul's instruction to the Phillipians by focusing on God and acknowledging the truths in God's word, through study and help from the Holy Spirit. Afterall, Paul's knowledge came from God.

Recently, I was losing my rejoicing and finding it difficult to keep my thoughts focused on the things that are good.
I thank my God for he helped me by releasing a knowledge of His love towards me, yet not only me but the world as a whole.

The scriptures:
John 3: 16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Remember, Paul admonished that we should rejoice always because we have a relationship with the Lord. But this increases also when we can but imagine the depth of God's love towards us especially, if we can know just a fraction of the price God and Christ paid for His love for us to redeem us from all bondage and break all contrary yokes.

Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

God loved Christ before the foundation of the world!
Let that sink in, I tell myself!
Because, this means God gave up His Son, whom he loved (even before he created the world), just to save the world.

If we look at it in order of priority in man's point of view, it should be that God gave up the world (which he created) and loved, for His Son (who is uncreated) and He loved first.

And this same Son comes into the world, and people of that age did not treat Him well, yet because of the love he has for His Father, when it was time to pay the price for our sin, Christ Jesus, did not say, I change my mind Father (as a man, he had this choice), He says instead:

Matthew 26: 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

He prayed about God taking the assignment off his hand, even though he could have just made the choice to act, and when it would seem God didn't yield to the first request, He said, I drink it or I accept it! Why? For thy will be done!

So, for my salvation, two sacrifices were made:
1) I have a Heavenly Father that gave up His Beloved Son.
2) A Saviour in Christ Jesus, who he gave up His will for the will of my Heavenly Father.

Considering these costs: My heart rejoices and I rejoice and I rejoice! And I hope that you will join me in rejoicing. For although our salvation is free, it came at a cost paid by One who loves us dearly.

We can conclude by saying: for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (whom He loved before the foundation of the world) who submitted himself to the will of God, so that we who believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Thank you for reading.

I would like to invite you to join me in receiving this very same priceless gift of salvation and enjoy a life of Peace and Joy and much more.
Jusy say this prayer:
Lord Jesus I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for your gift of salvation. I receive it with Joy and thanksgiving. Amen.

Thank you for receiving Jesus Christ into your life, tell a Christian friend about this important decision you have made, pray and ask God to lead you to a church, where you will grow in faith and love.

God bless us all.
Amen.