The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Sacrifices of Joy"
"Is it truly possible to rejoice in Lord at all times, and in all circumstances, conditions, and situations? Certainly it is. In accordance with His righteousness and holiness, God cannot command the impossible of His sons and daughters in Christ without violating His integrity and nature."
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4)
"Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy" (Psalm 43:4).
"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full" (I John 1:3-4).
A joyful God made human beings with the capacity to be joyful in Him and in the "wonders without number" He bestows upon us. "Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee" (Job 9:10; Psalm 5:11). We must perceive Him accordingly, and despite the realities of sin and its terrible consequences in our present existence, we must find His way to "rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice."
Always? Is it truly possible to rejoice in the Lord at all times, and in all circumstances, conditions, and situations? Certainly it is. In accordance with His righteousness and holiness, God cannot command the impossible of His sons and daughters in Christ without violating His integrity and nature. This He will never do. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Psalm 145:17). Thus, we can "rejoice in the Lord always" through Christ, although there will be times when we well understand the Psalmist's reference to "the sacrifices of joy" (Psalm 27:6).
Is our Lord really this present, this involved, this able, and this willing to reveal His joy in us wherein it seems joy could not be? He must be, and He is. James helps us here: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations" (James 1:2). Note that James does not command that we "feel" our trials and challenges as "all joy." We are rather to consider, affirm, and believe that God is our joy as a matter of conviction far more than in terms of emotion. Indeed, in this present life, tears and anguish will often accompany our determination to offer "the sacrifices of joy." Or, as the Apostle Paul confessed, we will frequently be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (II Corinthians 6:10).
Somewhere in this very moment, a battered believer lifts a broken heart to his Lord. No emotions of happiness accompany his sensibilities as this present world brings him to what saints of old called "the dark night of the soul." Nevertheless, our brother finds the Spirit of God moving within his depths no less than He moved upon primordial waters of old in creation. With tears and a hurting soul, he makes a choice, a choice to rejoice in his faithful God, and what he knows by faith to be the Lord's "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Few words may accompany his offering, but this does not matter as his Heavenly Father looks upon his heart, his heart determined to "count it all joy" regardless of physical and emotional sensation.
Our brother will find God faithful in the matter of joy, of sacrificially rejoicing in the Lord Jesus always. Deep in the spirit, a light shines and a presence bestows assurance regardless of what is felt in the outer court of our earthly humanity. No less than the Lord Jesus experienced this: "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Matthew 26:38). Our Savior sought His Father, as we must, with the outcome being, "For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). Yes, our Lord knows, He knows "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." He knows "count it all joy." He knows "rejoice in the Lord always." He knows, and He will lead and enable us accordingly to "offer the sacrifices of joy."
"These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
(John 15:11)
Weekly Memory Verse
He is thy Lord, and worship thou Him.
(Psalm 45:11)
7220
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