Being Joyful in the LORD
At our fellowship this evening, we discussed as a group what being joyful in the Lord means to us. We each shared a few thoughts. Before I note some of the thoughts and verses we shared, I have a few questions for you.
What does being joyful in the Lord mean specifically to you? Does it mean you are happy because God has given you many wonderful things? Do you consider joy as something that you receive, or is it a choice? Or maybe, on the contrary, you do not consider yourself to be a very joyful person. Whichever state you may be in, being joyful in the Lord is something you can learn more about from His Holy Word, the God-breathed scripture, the Bible.
Here are some verses that come to mind from our discussion:
1. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
2. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
3. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. (Psalm 98)
4. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12)
It might sound surprising to some, but Jesus Christ instructs us to be joyful even through persecution. As believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and children of God, we can rejoice in Him because of who He is! What brings me so much joy is when I think about God and how majestic and wonderful He is. He is full of grace, compassion, mercy, justice and love.
