SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
REJOICE!
(Mat 28:9) And as they went to tell His
disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him
by the feet and worshiped Him.
The word rejoice isn’t very
popular in our vocabulary these days. It
means to be glad and to enjoy life.
Nowadays we just say let’s party!
But do we have to wait for the weekend to have a good time? Is it just that one vacation a year that we
can really live it up? Do we have to
drudge through life and only wait for certain times before we can get that lift
and forget all about our problems?
It was the women who were the
last at the cross and the first at the tomb.
The disciples had fled and were sequestered for fear of their
lives. Leave it to the ladies to be so
devoted and the men to be so spiritually timid.
It ought not to be but the reality is that women have such a beautiful
sensitivity to spiritual things and sometimes men just don’t get it. But be that as it may, the Lord rewards faithfulness
and dedication and that is why Jesus appeared to the women first before the
men. And what was the first word He said
to them? Rejoice!
What a wonderful surprise for the
women. Their sorrow was over and Jesus
said it was time for them to be glad and joyful. They dropped to their knees and held Jesus’
feet and worshipped Him. Jesus said to
go and tell His disciples that He had risen and that He would meet up with them
in Galilee. So they went out quickly
from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. Jesus was alive and it was time to
celebrate!
But is it possible to celebrate
and be happy even when the chips are down?
Or do you have to wait until you aren’t beat anymore to be upbeat? The Bible says you can be glad and enjoy life
no matter what the circumstances. In
fact you can be in the pits and still praise!
Paul said from prison: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will
say, rejoice! (Phil 4:4) When he and
Silas were arrested in Philippi they were thrown into prison where they were
singing praises at midnight and the other prisoners were listening. The Bible says there was a great earthquake
and the chains were loosed from the prisoners.
Through this the jailer and his
family got saved and were baptized! (Acts 16:25-34)
Knowing Jesus is risen gives hope
to the believer! (1 Pet 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have a living hope because we have a
living Savior. Happiness depends on
circumstances but joy is a fruit of the Spirit that is available for us no
matter what we’re going through. (Gal 5:22-23)
Rejoice Christian! Jesus is alive!! Tomorrow is going to be a better day because He
lives!!!
Louie
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