How Can I Rejoice Now?

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope... (Romans 5:3-4)

As Paul sat in a Roman prison, he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).  If you're a Christian, you've heard this text quoted often.  Through it, we're reminded that rejoicing isn't a "sometimes" activity.  Rejoicing is an "all the time" activity, including those times when life is hard, pain is deep, and suffering will not let go.

In Romans 5, Paul rejoices in the "hope of the glory of God" (v. 1-2).  By God's grace, we have come to trust in Christ, we are now justified, we live at peace with God, and we have access to God that's impossible apart from Jesus (v. 1-2).   Who wouldn't rejoice at that?!?  But Paul goes on to say that we also rejoice in our sufferings.  In essence, he's saying we rejoice in the Lord always.

But how can I rejoice in my sufferings?  How can you rejoice in your sufferings?  When cancer wrecks our bodies, or the bodies of family members.  When your husband, father, or grandfather can no longer remember you due to their Alzheimer's.  When dementia leads to violent behavior.  When tragedy suddenly steals away a child.  When you lose your job because of circumstances out of your control.  When your wife suddenly abandons you.  When your adult children are in a deep, unchanging pattern of rebellion against God.  When friends and family cut you out because of your faith in Jesus.  When the world seems to be spinning out of control. 

How can I rejoice at these times?  How can I rejoice always?  Two words in Romans 5:3 help answer that question.  These two words equip us for rejoicing always.  Here they are: "knowing that."

What I know will determine whether I rejoice.  In particular, what I know of the Lord will determine whether I rejoice in the Lord.  And, what I know of the Lord will determine when I rejoice in the Lord.  Don't believe the lie that theology is for scholars and not ordinary Christians.  Our view of God matters when it comes to rejoicing.  Think about it.

The view that it is God's job to give me the life I want, to respond to my faith in Him by giving me health, wealth, and unwavering happiness in this life, isn't based on the Bible.  It's based on some version of God I've created in my mind.  However, if this is my view of God, when will I rejoice?  I will rejoice only when my bill of health is clear, my bank account is full, and my circumstances please me.  I won't always rejoice.  I'll sometimes rejoice.  Why?  Because what I know of God will determine when I rejoice in God. 

However, if I have a biblical knowledge of God, things change.  If I know that His design is to make me more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29), and if I know that being like Jesus requires suffering, rejection from friends, pain, and heartache, then do you know what I will do?  I will rejoice always.  I will say what Paul says.  "We rejoice in our sufferings..."  Why?  "...knowing that suffering produces..."

If I am convinced that suffering is only something to escape and not something God employs for His glory and my good, I will not rejoice.  However, if I know that suffering - in the hands of God, endured by faith - will produce Christlike character and trust and endurance I wouldn't have otherwise, then I can rejoice.  This is rejoicing "in the Lord"...in relationship to Him, with a right knowledge of Him, trusting in Him.

To be sure, rejoicing in the Lord always is not pain-free rejoicing.  There's nothing painless about cancer, Alzheimer's, abandonment, tragedy, rebellious children, ostracism from friends and family, or any other suffering you may endure.  However, because of what we know of God - His greatness, His goodness, His wisdom, and His purposes - we can rejoice all the same.  We will be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).

Here's where the rubber meets the road.  Since rejoicing in the Lord is based on knowing the Lord, then each of us should be committed to knowing the Lord and growing in that knowledge.  We should aim to diligently obey Peter's command: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Are you committed to growing in your knowledge of the Lord?  What will you do today to grow?

Family Ties

"...faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness...The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised" (Romans 4:9, 11-12).

In elementary school, backyard games of kickball or wiffle ball often stirred heated emotions, and verbal sparring would break out.  If things escalated, and the threat of a physical showdown was imminent, someone would claim superiority based on family heritage.  It wasn't superiority based on income or race or education; it was superiority based on sheer physical strength.  "My dad can beat up your dad!"

Looking to family heritage as a source of pride is nothing new.  In the first century, the Pharisees were appalled when Jesus said they needed to be set free from sin.  They told him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone...Abraham is our father." (Jn. 8:33, 39).

Jesus knew they were physical descendants of Abraham, as was He.  But Jesus also knew that genetics were not the determining factor in being a child of Abraham.  There's more to it.  "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did..." (Jn. 8:39).  And what did Abraham do that the Pharisees are not doing?  Abraham believed.

And Abraham is Paul's prime illustration in Romans 4, as he teaches what it means to be justified.  Declared "Not guilty!" by our divine Judge.  Declared righteous by our Righteous God.  How did Abraham attain such status?  What feat did he accomplish?  What work did he do?

Paul's answer is Genesis 15's answer: "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).  This is the same "work" Jesus calls everyone to do.  "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (Jn. 6:29).

Abraham was justified by faith.  He held a righteous status before God because he believed God.  In Genesis 15, it was faith in the promise that God would do what He said He would do (i.e., give Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars).

But make note.  Abraham didn't see having innumerable descendants as a reasonable thing.  He knew his body was "as good as dead" (Rom. 4:19).  So, his faith was based neither on his body's ability to produce children, nor on the fertility of his wife's womb (Rom. 4:19).  Human effort could not accomplish God's promised work.  No, Abraham's faith was based on the firm conviction that God is God.  God can do what God says He can do.  And God will do what God says He will do.  "...he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised" (Rom. 4:20-21).

Paul concludes by taking our mind's eye from Abraham to ourselves.  "It [i.e., righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 4:24-5:1).

It is this spiritual reality - justification by faith - that connects us to Abraham.  Because of this, Paul says that Abraham is "the father of all who believe" (Rom. 4:11).  Elsewhere, he writes that "it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Gal. 3:7).

Whether Jew or Gentile, the only ones who can truly say "Abraham is our father" are those who believe in Jesus Christ.  Abraham's children know their souls weren't just "as good as dead"...they were "dead" (Eph. 2:1).  Abraham's children believe that Jesus made the once-for-all atonement for our sin through His death on the cross.  Abraham's children believe that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin and death and hell.

Abraham's children believe that what God has done, in Christ, what He said He would do.  Abraham's children believe the gospel.  Do you believe?  Is Abraham your spiritual father?