REJOICE

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It might be as old as the hills (like my age), but when I heard it the first time, almost 40 years ago, it was like a major discovery. Bill Pierce, on his evening program said, “My mother had a motto pinned above her kitchen sink that said: “Not Somehow, But TRIUMPHANTLY!”

There are those who can find something to complain about, no matter the circumstance. They pull the complaint blanket over a beautiful situation by starting with the little word, “But”. You know the direction they will pursue, and you feel as though a bull just hit you with both horns and not all at once, but over and over.

The Apostle Paul was cognizant of the problems that confronted the Philippian believers when he wrote “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) He knew them well enough to repeat, “again I will say, rejoice!

Recall. This is the guy who had persecuted any and all who made a profession of being a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus, and he had done this under the conviction that he was doing it as a follower of God, a devout Pharisee! At his conversion, (Acts 9) God had not only saved him, but had told him he must “suffer” as a result of this Damascus road experience. (Acts 9:16)

To these Philippians he says REJOICE! You have your struggles because of your beliefs and opposition from others. Rejoice, as I have learned from my experiences. (Persecuted, stoned and left for dead, imprisoned, plus multiplied other confrontations) I rejoice because God saw me through it all and counted me worthy.

“NOT SOMEHOW, BUT TRIUMPHANTLY!”