What gives you joy?
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Gracious Lord,
In these days of sorrow over wars and plagues and division,
help us understand what Paul is not saying and what he is saying.
He’s not saying,
Cheer up! Put on a happy face!
He’s not saying,
Fake it till you make it!
He is saying,
Because “our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body
to be like his glorious body…” (Philippians 3:20-21),
we have every reason to rejoice.
We don’t have to put on a happy face,
but we do need to remember
all of our reasons for rejoicing,
even in the midst of suffering:
You have made us righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21);
You have made us your children (Ephesians 1:5);
You have made us citizens of your world,
heaven, here and now (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:6).
One day, soon,
our Savior, the one who died for our sins, will return.
In that day, not only will he transform our lowly bodies,
making them like his glorious body (can we believe it?!),
he will transform the entire cosmos,
“making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
Today and every day, may we rejoice in all of this marvelously good news!
In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen.
Read Philippians 4; Philippians 3:20-21.
