Rejoice in the Lord, Always

One of the most popular lines from my favorite movie saga comes from Star Wars: A New Hope.  The master Jedi Ben Kenobi says to young Luke Skywalker in the midst of a perilous situation, “The force will be with you, always.” (Click here for the 4 second clip found on YouTube).

In the Star Wars universe, that line is powerful.  In real life, it’s bogus! A fictional concept of the “force” presented by franchise creator George Lucas as a reinvention of pagan concepts.

But do you know what is not bogus?  This powerful line from the Apostle Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord, always” (Philippians 4:4, NASB). This is God’s Word presented in the Bible and we hold to it as truth.

Rejoicing is a choice.  Someone may become excited to the point of ecstasy with hearing good news such as their favorite sports team having a victory, but that is not the same as rejoicing.  The difference is that rejoicing is an intentional act.  Paul wrote about rejoicing from prison.  It’s hard to imagine someone rejoicing while incarcerated, but alas the choice is ours to rejoice no matter our circumstances.

How about you?  Will you make the intentional life decision to rejoice today?

Prayer: Loving Father, prepare us now to rejoice in the good and hard times which may come.  Amen.