Our good biblical friend, Paul, writes so we can always read how his life was lived in such a special way as he served your Kingdom on earth. His words remind us of what a special blessing God our heavenly Father has blest us with; “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice!” My friends, as we live out our days in this world what better word can we hear than Paul telling us to rejoice! Paul wrote to the Philippians, and we are blest to read today, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

The meaning of the word rejoice, as Paul uses it here, is not just simply like a pat on the back for any who may be feeling down. No, it is putting our lives in the power and love of our Lord, Christ Jesus. Living in Jesus made Paul more than just a man with a marvelous ability to think, it made him a new man! It made Paul realize that Jesus was more than just someone we ought to remember. Jesus the Son of God came to earth so that all humankind may be saved. We say saved naturally from the evil abounding in the world, but perhaps even more important; saved from the evil abounding in us. Thus we recognize that this man named Jesus was not only a good person, but to believe in Him was an eternal Way of living our life close to God.

For Paul, as it is for all of us in this day, Jesus Christ is the new and wonderful way of life that God Himself gave for all who live in the world! Through his faith in Jesus, Paul learned that God, his heavenly Father, has made it possible for all in the world to receive the gift of eternal life. Through Jesus the Redeemer, death is no more! This divine revelation brings us to a new way of living out our days. Perhaps even more joyful, we are able to rejoice now in this new life as we live in the Lord!

The good news for all of us who live in the Lord Jesus is we can now live in the world rejoicing. No more sort of going through the motions, we live our lives no more with our head down! The reason we can now do this is because we live in the Lord! Again, I say no more will the worries of life hang over us. Living in the Lord lifts us up, head up, to rejoice and be glad, because we are living in Christ Jesus, our Redeeming Lord. Let us gave thanks to God in prayer.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are blest with the gift of eternal life in You through Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. We therefore celebrate the faith shared through Your servant, Paul. In Your Spirit we humbly pray. Amen.