Cause For Rejoicing

Cause For Rejoicing“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 Those who know the Lord Jesus have so much to rejoice about. To begin with, we are saved by His grace through His gift of faith (Eph. 2:8) – forgiven, accepted and beloved by God (Eph. 1:6-7). We are privileged servants of the Most High God, called to proclaim the way of salvation (Acts 16:17). We are a new creation, dead to sin, alive to God, walking in newness of life and baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:11, 4, 3). We are living stones being built up into a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5) and the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). We are the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-27, 32). We are clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27) – holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight (Col. 1:22). Having been born again through the Word of God (1 Pet. 1:23), we are partakers of His divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). We are sons and heirs (Gal. 4:6-7), empowered by God (Eph. 3:20) and children of promise (Gal. 4:28). We are the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), and, together, one in Him (Gal. 3:28). We are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20) and ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We are a chosen generation, a holy and a royal priesthood, and a special people called to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). We are vessels of honor (2 Tim. 2:21), the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt. 5:13-14). We are soldiers of Christ, competing athletes, hard-working farmers (2 Tim. 2:3-6), fishers of men (Mk. 1:17) and ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). Our Lord, has made us all these amazing things through His work on Calvary’s cross. And on that same cross He has made us one more thing – victorious! (1 Cor. 15:57). Now that’s cause for rejoicing! By Larry Ondrejack