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by Pastor Lee
In Philippians 4:4 it says, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. I am grateful to the Lord that this can be true, even in the times that we live.
I was at a place of business waiting for some food and as I was waiting there, I just about left. The music was loud and not what I considered pleasing to the Lord. Some of the others waiting were young people with empty lives. Then I prayed that the Lord would give me a burden for these people.
Are you someone that has an empty life? Maybe you have little, or maybe you have much. But down inside you are empty and unfulfilled.
When I was younger, I learned a song that went like this. The chimes of time ring out the news, another day is through. Someone slipped and fell, was that someone you? It may have been for added strength, your courage to renew, do not be dishearted, for I have news for you. It is no secret, what God can do, what he has done for others, he'll do for you. With arms wide open, he'll pardon you. It is no secret, what God can do.
So to be able to rejoice is not dependent on what we have or don't have. It is being free from sin before God, experiencing his love, and being able to rejoice that that empty part of me is filled. Because God makes us, we are made to be complete with his presence, peace, and power in our lives. Without this, we are not complete and are empty. The Lord wants to fill us and use us. He wants us to have purpose and security in our lives. But it can only come as he has filled us with his spirit and we are living for Him.
I have seen those that have gone from the strain that comes from sin to a peace and freedom that comes because of surrender to God who releases them from that strain.
Even professing Christians can sometimes become to fill empty when we do not give Christ the place in our lives that we should. We live for self.
So, back to our verse. "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." The key is rejoicing in the Lord. Outside of Him, we are empty and unfulfilled.
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