Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; Phil 4:4-5

What causes you to rejoice? Is it environmental factors, like when you’ve had a good day? Or you find a fiver in a pair of jeans you haven’t worn for a while? Or you’ve got a sense of achievement? Or the cute receptionist smiled at you, you got your favourite parking spot and the traffic lights were all green?

Paul’s in jail – he didn’t have a good day and he’s writing to a church that is seriously worried about him and Epaphroditus, one of their guys who nearly died while coming to support Paul. They face persecution. They’ve got a couple of ladies in the church who, although being deeply spiritual and great pillars of the church, have fallen out so badly that they need someone else to help reconcile them.

But Paul demands that they (and we) rejoice. Because rejoicing is a choice – it should be something we proactively determine to do in all circumstances, rather than reactive, an emotion driven response to daily trivialities.

Rejoice in the Lord. Because of what he’s done. Because of who you are now in Christ. Rejoice because your future in Christ is bright. Rejoice because harsh as they may be, deep as the wounds they inflict are, your present sufferings aren’t fit to be compared to the abundance of glory that is waiting to be revealed.

Rejoice today – regardless of how the wife/boss/kids/co-workers/bus driver/traffic lights/whatever treats you: rejoice.

I’ll say it again: rejoice.