“Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice within the Lord! To write the identical thing to you is just not troublesome to me, and it’s for you a safeguard.” (Philippians 3:1)
We often think that rejoicing is a response to something amazing or miraculous. Rejoicing is an exuding of praise, the expression of exultation done in thanksgiving. Rejoicing is spontaneous, arising from a heart that explodes in wonder for the great in our lives. Rejoicing, subsequently, is an external manifestation of our internal satisfaction.
But is that this all that rejoicing is? Is rejoicing nothing greater than an automatic response to that which is sweet and pleasing? Not based on St. Paul. According to Paul, rejoicing isn’t just an expression of positivity or praise. It can be a “safeguard” for our faith. Rejoicing acts as a shield against the threats to our walk with God. This is why Christians are called to in times of difficulty or struggle. Rejoicing is a crucial spiritual act for all those that want to live authentic Christian lives.
Of course, once we see the act of rejoicing as a spiritual shield against the threats to our spiritual livelihood, this naturally raises a matter: what threats does rejoicing guard us against?
Rejoicing protects us from the specter of idolatry.
The biggest threat to our spiritual life is the supplanting of God in favor of other things. This is the definition of Idolatry. Idolatry simply means we worship something apart from the Lord. This was the temptation we saw within the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit for they believed that the fruit would offer something for them that God couldn’t, or wouldn’t, provide. In that moment, their faithful allegiance was turned away from Godly obedience, and toward the maximization of their very own pleasures.
This temptation is played out throughout scripture. As Israel wandered through the Exodus, they were continually tempted to adopt the worship practices of other nations. Similarly, Paul often preached in cities crammed with idols and pagan temples. Famously, in Athens, Paul said “I even found a statue to an unknown God” (Acts 17:23) Amid a polytheistic world, and against the urge to seek out a synergy between religions, Paul maintained the unique Lordship of Jesus Christ. His message was that “there is no such thing as a other name under heaven by which we could be saved” (Acts 4:12).
So, how does rejoicing guard against idolatry? Simply, rejoicing unites us to Jesus. Paul writes “Rejoice within the Lord.” Rejoicing is just not a non-descript act of positivity or joy, it’s a conscious act of exalting the Lordship of Christ. We hold Jesus before us, and we provide him our praise and our thanks. In Jesus, we recognize the fullness of redemption, love, and style. Rejoicing, subsequently, is a response to the gift of redemption, revealed in Jesus. Thus, through consistent rejoicing, we guard against being swayed by the spiritual claims of idols because rejoicing within the Lord ensures that our vision is perpetually on Christ alone, and in his light, all idols are but pale imitations.
Rejoicing protects us from the specter of pride.
Like the specter of idolatry, the specter of pride looms large. Pride is only a veiled version of idolatry because once we are prideful, we’re praising and exulting ourselves. Pride causes us to imagine that our accomplishments merit divine favor. We imagine that we’ve earned our salvation based solely on our good works.
Sadly, this threat still exists within the church. Some imagine that heightened religious observance sways God in our favor. If one “prays appropriately” or attends the “right” church, then God’s blessing shall be unlocked of their life. Others imagine that a heredity of church attendance is what merits divine favor. If we are able to link our spiritual life to influential people of the past, then God could have no alternative but to bless us.
The early Christians faced similar threats. Paul regularly contrasted his message with that of the “super-apostles” who based their preaching on the largeness of their following and the greatness of their public accolades. Paul, nevertheless, refuses to accomplish that, acknowledging that “I count the whole lot as loss due to surpassing wealth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Paul understood that he couldn’t create his redemption and that the accolades and accomplishments of his Pharisaic life were “rubbish” when it got here to salvation and the forgiveness of sins.
Rejoicing demands that we see ourselves rightly. Yes, rejoicing recognizes that we’re beloved children of God, people of value and price; but rejoicing also calls us to be humble before our Lord. “All have sinned and fallen wanting the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a present” (Romans 3:23-24). We rejoice since the forgiveness we are able to never earn, and the brand new life we are able to never claim for ourselves, are gifted to us in Jesus Christ. Thus, rejoicing involves a bowing of ourselves before the greatness of Christ.
Rejoicing protects us from the specter of hopelessness.
The struggles and discouragement of life can easily distract us from Christ’s presence. Even if we live stalwart lives, in humility and faithfulness before God, we are able to easily turn into disheartened once we face times of difficulty. Hopelessness can threaten even the strongest of Christians. It is because of this that we’re called to rejoice.
Initially, this might sound strange. Why can we rejoice when things go awry? Biblical rejoicing, nevertheless, is just not simply a response to what happens to us, but a daring incarnation of our trust in Jesus. Rejoicing safeguards against hopelessness because, through rejoicing, we live out the reality that Christ is present. In rejoicing, we incarnate the truth that we usually are not alone, and thus we walk in hope, despite what life may throw at us. Christ walks with us, and his love enfolds our lives. Rejoicing isn’t just escapism; it’s a daring commitment to acknowledge the presence of Christ in each circumstance of life.
This is what distinguishes worldly thanksgiving from true, biblical rejoicing. The call to “rejoice all the time, pray continually, and provides thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), is a call to acknowledge the presence of Christ in every circumstance in life. Jesus is just not only present within the pure and pristine, but he also walks with us through the mud and muck of life. He goes to the cross, and to the place of death. Thus, in times of hardship, the Holy Spirit works in our lives, bringing forward God’s good and ideal will for us. Rejoicing is an act of trust in Christ’s goodness.
This is the spiritual disposition during which the followers of Jesus are called to live. Jesus says to the disciples “Blessed are you when people hate you, once they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, due to Son of Man. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:22-23). Through rejoicing we claim the reality that our lives are held within the loving hands of Christ.
Whether we fight against idolatry, pride, or hopelessness, rejoicing imbeds our life within the presence of Christ. Through rejoicing, we turn into more deeply aware of the Spirit’s work of affection, guidance, and deliverance. This affects our testimony on this world. Thus, rejoicing is a spiritual practice we’d all profit from engaging with more.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/ipopba
