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When my nephew Witten was little, maybe around three years old, he came to spend the night with me for the first time. His parents were away on a trip, and we had big plans. We did so many fun things together. We hiked through the woods and talked about bears, we went fishing, we picked berries, we played the Wii, and we had the best time.
But when it came time for bed and to turn off his tablet, he had a breakdown. We had to call Mom and Dad and FaceTime them just to get him to settle down.
Years later, he still remembers that sleepover. Not for all the fun things we did, but because I took away his tablet. He didn’t come spend the night with me for a long time because of it.
Sometimes we do the same thing. We get so wrapped up in one difficult moment that we forget all the good things.
We let our outward circumstances determine our internal attitude.
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” KJV
Every book of the Bible has a key verse. One that the author would say, “If you remember nothing else, remember this!”
This verse is the key verse for this book. Paul was reminding the Philippians that they could always rejoice because the Lord was with them no matter what they faced. He wanted them to look at the world through the lens of God’s saving grace instead of the other way around.
And he told them this while he was in prison.
How could Paul say to rejoice when his circumstances would have made any of us question God, be angry at our oppressors, and demand justice?
He didn’t say, rejoice in your strength or rejoice in your circumstances. He said, “rejoice in the Lord.”
Don’t let one mistake, one bad decision, or circumstance cause you to lose your focus. Don’t hold on to that. Let it go. View this world through the lens of God’s amazing grace and love.
If you remember nothing else from our study in Philippians, remember this: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!”
Do you want to know more about following Jesus and rejoicing in Him? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
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