Rejoice Evermore

2021-08-13

One short verse in the Word: “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). It is quite the command to rejoice always! The primary reason for this is that our names “are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:3-4). If our names are written in the book of life, we have eternal life: “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Moreover, the Lord Himself rejoiced at how the “babes” in understanding received Him: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21). When the sinner repents, there is rejoicing in heaven: “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” (Luke 15:6).

When persecution comes, we can rejoice: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). We “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:5-6). We rejoice because we are accepted by God and have eternal life. If we keep the right perspective through trials, we can continue to rejoice.

This is the first perspective in the pulling down of strong holds.