A Bad Day?
Now, I know that we've had some pretty bad days. Even some down right ugly days. In the middle of those stormy days it probably seemed pretty dark. But could it match the one Paul and Silas were having in Phillipi? They were 1) humiliated by being falsely accused, 2) stripped, 3) flogged, 4) thrown in a cold, dark prison, 5) hands put in chains, 6) legs put in chains, and 7) even a guard was placed to watch them. Yet, at midnight, Paul and Silas were singing and rejoicing. (Can we learn from them how to do more rejoicing in our lives?)
Paul shows us rejoicing is not controlled by what is happening on the outside, but rather a choice. Paul and Silas, in the middle of their innocent sufferings, chose to rejoice!
Why did Paul choose to rejoice? Paul, help us to understand how we can also rejoice in all things? Paul says to start at the cross. For when we were enemies of God, rebellious sinners - He sent to us Jesus to bridge the great canyon of our sin and show us the way. Jesus, as our Savior, willing came down to a world of sinners, where we killed Him and nailed Him on a cross. Jesus knows how we are and He died for us anyway. So rejoice, Jesus loves us!
Because of our sin, we were in prison, but God set us free. So rejoice, we are free!
We also have a Father who forgives us when we continue to sin. So rejoice, our mistakes are forgiven!
We are part of the church, the family of God where we enjoy encouragement, support and love. So rejoice, we are part of the body.
God owns everything and He gives freely to His children. So rejoice, we are blessed!
Do you know what our Savior is doing now. He's preparing us a home and it will be fabulous. So rejoice, we have a home waiting for us!
We have many reasons to rejoice, but the choice is ours. Jesus has set us free and has given us every spiritual blessing - so let us rejoice!
ã Jim Ness
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