isa 61v10 Children Of God Rejoice

 

CHILDREN OF GOD, REJOICE!             

Isaiah 61:10

Isaiah had seen and experienced many things that caused him grief and pain. He was acutely aware of his own sin and the sins of his countrymen. The prophet of God knew the judgment and desolation that would fall upon his people from the Lord, because of their unbelief. But he had heard the Lord Christ declare how that, in spite of all the evil which would surely come, he would gather his own elect to himself and establish his righteousness and his salvation in the earth (Isa. 61:1-9). Then, taking God at his Word, the prophet declared, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God." Children of God, you and I ought to follow the prophet's example. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!" I do not suggest that we should look upon our trials and afflictions as fatalistic stoics, without feeling or emotion. Nor am I promoting the modern "positive thinking gospel", which says, "Ignore your troubles, and they will go away. Think positively and you can overcome anything." Such teachings are popular. They are pleasant to the carnal ear. But they are both foolish and irresponsible. But I am saying this - As men and women who are redeemed, justified, pardoned, and saved by the grace of God in Christ, as men and women who live by faith in Christ, WE CAN AND SHOULD REJOICE IN THE LORD, ALWAYS AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. I am not calling for a superficial, pretentious, hypocritical show of joy. I am calling for real, true, sincere, heart-felt joy, arising from a believing knowledge of God in Christ. I do not suggest that we should rejoice in our trials; but I do say that we should rejoice IN THE LORD in the midst of our trials. Though our hearts are aching and our eyes are weeping, faith still rejoices in the Lord. I cannot rejoice in my sorrows; but I can rejoice in my Savior. I cannot rejoice in my grief; but I can rejoice in my God. I cannot rejoice in my pain; but I can rejoice in his providence. I cannot rejoice in my loss; but I can rejoice in his love.

It is not only true that we can and should rejoice in the Lord, but faith has much reason to

rejoice. I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD ‑ BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN ME A DIVINE CLOTHING. "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation." From head to foot, I am clothed with God's salvation. All the garments of salvation were tailored by God himself for my soul, and he put them upon me (Ez. 16:8-9). In Christ I am redeemed, pardoned, and accepted before God. Children of God, you have the livery of God upon you! Neither the dark, cold nights of sorrow, nor the burning sun of affliction can harm you. I WILL REJOICE IN MY GOD, BECAUSE HE HAS PLACED UPON ME A DIVINE COVERING. "He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." There is but one robe of righteousness. It was completely woven by the Lord Jesus Christ in his life of perfect obedience to God as my Representative. God himself has placed that robe of Christ's righteousness upon me, by virtue of His sin-atoning sacrifice at Calvary. God looks upon me and sees me only in his Son, and sees nothing but perfect righteousness upon me! I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD MY GOD, BECAUSE HE HAS BROUGHT ME INTO A DIVINE UNION. "He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels." The Lord Jesus Christ has made me perfectly beautiful in his sight, through his beauty that he has put upon me (Ez. 16:13-14); and he has taken me into an indissoluble union of marriage with himself (Eph. 5:30). Having assurance that this God, this Savior, and this salvation is mine, I defy hell itself to stop my laughter! "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God."

Tell me, you who know the Lord, will you not rejoice in him? Let us be glad and rejoice, the Lord our God, he is God! Let us honor and magnify him by our joy in him. Rejoice in all that God is. Rejoice in all that God has done. Rejoice in all that God is doing. Rejoice in all that God has sworn to do. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!"