Part 5 of 31 from "Christ our Righteousness".
By Carl Oluf Rosenius.
(1816-1868)
Translated from ekris.net
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
This request to rejoice applies to those, who by the grace of God are born again – those, who are God’s children and own the friendship of The Almighty. These people have indeed reason to rejoice always, even if sorrows and misfortunes overtake them. If they don’t rejoice always, then they are happy anyway – and therefore they should rejoice always.
But no Christian has served his apprenticeship in this art. The feelings change like clouds in the sky. But the joy of faith is deeper and more lasting than the joy we feel. And that’s the one the apostle thinks of here, when he says, ´Rejoice always`. And the secret in that joy, is the words between these two: ´In the Lord`. Not in silver or gold, not in delight and song, not in health and strength, not in art and wisdom, neither in friendship and kindness from people, no – not even in good works or fruits of one's service – but in the Lord.
The real children, who are under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, are rarely allowed to rejoice very long in any of this. In the first place, this is always a short-term joy, and secondly, it may be a dangerous joy, that draws the heart away from the Lord. He wants to be our only joy, and the one who wants to rejoice always – yes for ever – must have his joy in Him.
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Translation Gert Gravgaard
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In Danish and in English as pdf-files here.
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