Rejoice
Matthew 5:11 “Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me.12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward
in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.”
JESUS reaffirms that we must keep our focus on him. As we
call Jesus “Lord” we must be sincere in faith to know he is the one who saves,
the one who judges and the one who reigns over all creation. Deciding whether
we obey God’s truths based on others’ approval or disapproval, and even based
on whether we will live or die, is removing Jesus from our heart’s throne.
Jesus spoke this
rejoicing command to his own people oppressed again and again by other foreign
invaders. They even lived in distress under the Pharisees’ over-legalized laws.
The entire structure of the society around Jesus was centered on persecution
from Rome, Herod and the religious leaders. The Jews’ only response to
persecution was to begrudge their destiny as they lived in hopeless despair. How
could they rejoice?
Jesus leads them
to find rejoicing in God’s true ways. Further, this rejoicing isn’t mere
happiness. “Rejoice” is what you do when your favorite team wins at the last
second. You “leap for joy”. The blessing of staying true to God’s true Word
goes deep into the heart, mind and soul to leap for joy as you are “exceedingly
glad” because you truly are the Lord’s own!
Joy is a deep
inner sense of emotional well-being. Rejoicing amid persecution and even your
daily troubles is an extension of that inner joy into an outer expression to
the world. Your rejoicing tells the world, “I win!” because the Lord of Life
has called you to be h is own.
LIFE Link: Rejoice with a voice of praise to Jesus today.
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