You may not feel like rejoicing today. After all, it is Monday, the first day of most people’s work week. It is the first day back from the Thanksgiving holiday break, for most. Remember, the fact that you have a job to go back to is worthy of thanksgiving.
I want to share with you another reason to rejoice today: Romans 8:31-33 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Many people still believe that they have to earn God’s love and live a sin- free life in order to go to heaven. While it is good to live a life that is pleasing to God, if our salvation was dependent on living a sin-free life, none of us would be saved.
We can rejoice knowing that we are saved, and our destination is heaven. We can rejoice that we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. We can rejoice that God, our Father, wants to bless us. We can call upon Him in times of need and we know that He hears and answers our prayers. We can come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in a time of need. We do not have to understand everything that happens in our lives, we can rest in the assurance that God is using everything for our good. As we seek God’s will for our lives, daily, we will experience the abundant life that Jesus promised.
There is so much turmoil in the world today. We sometimes have a difficult time wrapping our minds around the evil that men do. However, we know that there is another force at work in the world today. A satanic force that moves mankind to commit atrocities against each other. The bible tells us that wars and rumors of wars will continue until Jesus returns. We would be without hope if it were not for the fact that we know one day Jesus will rule the earth and there will be peace and love abounding.
Philippians 4:4-7:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”