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᛭ INI ᛭

(5. Oops!: “Rejoice!”)

“Rejoice,” Paul tells you. So, “Rejoice!” Did it work? Does that ever work? Does some telling you “cheer up!” when you’re sad or “calm down” when you’re mad actually work?

The truth is we have every reason to rejoice. There is the salvation of God in Christ. That’s enough joy for a lifetime. In fact, that salvation will be the everlasting joy of all the Redeemed.

We live in a joyless time in general. But the reality is there are many things at work in the world, or maybe in your world, your life, that are trying to steal your joy. The devil is the thief of joy. Our flesh is driven to joy-less-ness by culture, media, everything. Besides all that, we’re German! (At least I am.) Not known for being happy bunch are we?

All joking aside, “joy” is a fruit of the Spirit, and if there is lack of joy, no rejoicing, then it’s a product of our flesh.

(4. Ugh!: “Don’t worry!”)

But Paul doesn’t stop there. “Do not be anxious about anything.” “Don’t worry,” Paul says. Yeah, saying that doesn’t quite help either, does it?

We’re anxious about a great many things. Part of the problem is what Paul lays out here. “Do not be anxious about anything, but [rather] in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We don’t pray, lifting up our worries and anxieties, fears and frustrations to the God through Christ our Lord. Thus there is no peace…

But the lack of prayer and its accompanying worry is the symptom of a deeper problem: lack of faith. Our trust in the Lord waivers. We don’t trust Him with ALL our ways. We try to keep some measure of control for ourselves. Whether it’s our finances or our job, our health or family, there’s always something where we’re like “I’ve got a handle on this.” Those are often the areas of most worry aren’t they! Or the area of most worry is the smoldering rubble of a career, relationship, or financial future where we thought we had it under control. And clearly we didn’t. And thus we pretended to be God in God’s place and now endless anxiety, nonstop worry, no prayer.

(3. Aha!: “The Lord is at hand.”)

So how are we supposed to have no worry in the world like it is now, or in our daily lives as they are? How are we supposed to have joy and peace? It’s not in any of the commands Paul lays out here. It’s NOT “Don’t worry; be happy!” Your peace, your joy, your lack of worry doesn’t rest with you. You can’t drum up peace and joy and lack of worry from within yourself. In fact, like I said before, “Joy” and “Peace” are fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s listen to Paul again: Rejoice in the Lord always.” Did you hear that? “Rejoice IN THE LORD.” Paul also says: “Let your reasonableness (or gentleness) be known to everyone.” Why? How? Answer? “The Lord is at hand.” This isn’t to be shape up or ship out sort of language. This is a comfort! The Lord isn’t far off. The Lord is at hand! In fact, the LORD IS NEAR YOU.

(2. Whee!: THE LORD IS NEAR YOU.)

THE LORD IS NEAR YOU. That’s His promise:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you, says the LORD.” “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” “The eternal God,” Christ ΙΗϹ your LORD, “is you refuge; and underneath are [His] everlasting arms.” If you were to ascend into heaven, He is there. If you went down into hell, into the depths of earth, into the sea, even there He would be with, His hand leading, guiding, and protecting you.

Such knowledge is to wonderful for any of us to fathom, but it is the Lord’s promise nonetheless. He can do far more abundantly than we can even think or imagine! The Lord is near to those who fear Him! He is good to those who put their trust in Him, their hope in His unfailing love. After all, what can man, what anyone, anything do to you? The LORD is by your side, at your right hand, you cannot be shaken. I am with you, I will uphold you, I will strengthen you with My righteous right hand.

Everything I’ve just said are the Lord’s promise to be near to you. And so He is. The proof is in what Christ has done for you. He died on the cross, and He was truly far off for your sake. “My God, My God why have your forsaken Me?!” In the great and mysterious cry of dereliction. Forsaken also for you at His birth: “there was no room FOR THEM in the upper room.” The Lord who left His Father’s bosom, was born and placed in a feed trough, crucified at the hands of sinners, and raised in glory, He is the LORD, CHRIST THE LORD, IS NEAR YOU.

(1. Yeah!: Your joy and peace is in Him alone.)

Remembering all that Christ has done for you—what joy! He is your help, He your joy! He shattered the kingdoms of the world and infiltrated the devil’s domain in His conception and birth. After that, He lived perfectly for you, swapping His perfect record with your imperfect one, He has forgiven all your sins, took on your death and grave and conquered them, and He defeated the devil and destroyed any claim the devil would have on you. That’s just Good Friday and Easter.

He shares all these blessings with you in Holy Baptism. And with Holy Baptism stands that promise that He is with you always. That through Baptism you have become the Spirit’s living temple. There “Christ also resides in your heart, by faith” in Him. ”He and His Father have already made Their home within you.” He brings you to take of His great earthly thanksgiving feast. He puts on His Feast of Victory, the Supper of His body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.

Through all of these ways the Lord’s promise stands firm: THE LORD IS NEAR YOU.

Because of all this, no matter what happens He is your sure foundation. He’s right there with you. You are His and He is yours. You bear His name on your forehead. “He’s engraved you on the palms of His hands.” “He Himself is your peace.” He alone is the “peace that surpasses understanding.” With Him, there is lasting peace, because what can anything do to hurt you. I mean really? Christ was crucified and is now alive again for you.

So, it’s not just “Rejoice!” but rather “rejoice in the LORD.” What joy He is! Every day’s a joy-filled day, even you don’t “feel” joyful because no matter what we can be reasonable, gentle, kind not because our joy is anything. But Christ is risen and He’s NEAR YOU. He’s yours. You are His.

What’s there to worry about? “What if this or that happens?” Christ was crucified, Christ was raised, you’re baptized. So what about yesterday or today or tomorrow! “Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” So you can trust Him when He says to you, “This is My body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Eat and drink “God’s peace in Christ ΙΗϹ our Lord.”

᛭ INI ᛭