TODAY’S VERSE:
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.
The dictionary defines rejoice as to feel joy or great delight and joy as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Now, let’s take a look at how the Bible defines joy and rejoicing. We will start by answering this question; what does today’s verse mean when it tells us to “rejoice always”? Are we expected to skip around, laugh, sing, and clap our hands every day, all day? No, that would be silly (lol).
James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
In these verses, we are told to be joyful when we suffer. Are you smiling and happy when you get grounded? Probably not. Are you laughing when you have the stomach flu for a week? Ugh, no way! Are you singing and clapping when bullies at school pick on you? Nope. Here is an even more important question to consider; what motivated Jesus to endure all that He suffered on the cross?
Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
As you can see, God’s joy is not a mere emotion- it is a result of how you think. You can be filled with joy when suffering when you understand that it is a beautiful part of God’s plan. It may not “feel” good, but it is necessary for humility and teaching us obedience. The Bible says even the perfect One, Jesus Christ, learned obedience through suffering.
Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.
So, for example, when your parents discipline you for disobeying the rules, it is for YOUR benefit. This truth should give you Biblical joy because it is out of love that your parents discipline you and God allows you to suffer. Now, how in the world are you ever going to have joy when you are grounded or spanked? The answer to that question is the same answer we gave for how you can be kind and patient. Joy is, you guessed it, a fruit of the Spirit!
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now, is it OK feel the emotion of joy and rejoice, especially during happy events? Of course; it is just important to understand that true happiness, true joy, and true contentment are not temporary emotions. Biblical joy results from confidence in your salvation and eternal relationship with God; from understanding, with gratitude, that Jesus Christ was God who became a man, was judged for our sins, died and then was raised again for our eternal salvation. Now, there’s a reason to rejoice always!
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.