“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11).
Billy Sunday an American evangelist of the 1920’s, noted for his impacting ‘one liners’ once said, “If you have no joy, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”
How true it is that of all people, believers should be those who stand out as those who are joyful! But too many professing believers don’t radiate that message. Why is that?
Maybe its because their aspirations of real joy is anchored in temporary things like careers, friends, relationships, financial success etc. Now if that is the real issue - of course you will not know or radiate real joy! As the text above states, our source of real lasting joy is in the Lord. And if it is not rooted and founded in Him, our joy will be found sorely lacking. It will be pushed from pillar to post and be like a glass half full that we dearly want to see overflowing! Real joy will never be found in the whimsical experiences of life.
The Christian can and should truly “be glad” amidst all the ups and downs of life, and “shout for joy” - that is, sing joyfully in the face of trials and difficulties! Why? Because our “hearts” have been made “upright” …that is, we have been declared righteous by God and are accepted by Him. Now, how much better can it be? So why is it that with some, who call themselves Christian …there is little joy?
Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace ministries rightly said in his book ‘Worship Matters’ “When we fail to demonstrate delight and satisfaction in God, we’re not only dishonoring God, we’re disobeying Him. More than anyone else on earth, Christians have a reason to celebrate.”
“Rejoice in the Lord and again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).