Rejoice in the Lord!With the journey of faith sadness is mingled with joy. All grief and sorrow over sin misses the whole point of God's grace: that we might be joined in union to Christ for God's glory. Thomas Watson reminds me to find daily joy in the Lover of my soul.
"Let me tell you, it is a sin not to rejoice. You disparage your Husband, Christ. When a wife is always sighing and weeping, what will others say? 'This woman has a bad husband.' Is this the fruit of Christ's love to you, to reflect dishonour upon Him? A melancholy spouse saddens Christ's heart. I do not deny that Christians should grieve for sins of daily occurrence, but to be always weeping (as if they mourned without hope) is dishonouring to the marriage relationship. 'Rejoice in the Lord always' (Philippians 4:4). Rejoicing brings credit to your husband. Christ loves a cheerful bride, and indeed the very purpose of God's making us sad is to make us rejoice. We sow in tears, so that we may reap in joy. The excessive sadness and contrition of the godly will make others afraid to embrace Christ. They will begin to question whether there is that satisfactory joy in religion which is claimed. Oh, you saints of God, do not forget consolation, let others see that you do not repent of your choice in pursuing Christ. It is joy that puts liveliness and activity into a Christian: 'The joy of the LORD is your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10). The soul is swiftest in duty when it is carried on the wings of joy."
Excerpt from "The Godly Man's Picture" by Thomas Watson.
1 comment:
How true is this! Yes of course, our weeping reflects on our Saviour. His redemption is full, all I need is all that He is. Rejoicing is the choice that brings both of us the best.
A practice of where to look, what I see. A practice of choosing, moment by moment the rejoicing.
xoxxo denise
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