Opening Prayer
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psa 90:14)
Text: Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Devotion
How can Paul say that the believers should always rejoice in the Lord? He himself had “a constant pain within” and suffered so much from the assaults of the devil that he complained: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death” (Rom 7:24)? Yes, we experience “much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses … as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2Co 6:10). But how can this be? Indeed “the Lord is near.” The believers’ many troubles turn into joy, their sorrow into prayer, their strife into the peace of God that passes all understanding. The Lord is near, near in the Word, near in death, near in the judgment. The Lord is near, in every sense of the word. And with whatever meaning you take this phrase: “The Lord is at hand,” it will always be able to open your ears to the apostolic exhortation that precedes and follows. Soon tears will flow from your eyes no more, soon no sighing will arise from your heart: you will enjoy eternal peace! Isn’t that a reason to rejoice?
Cheer up, believing Christian, and rejoice in the midst of your trouble. Rejoice today and rejoice tomorrow. Rejoice in times of joy and rejoice in the year of pain. You have something to rejoice about. God loves us and has given us His Son, who is always with us. In Him you are a child of God and heir of salvation. Certainly You are now in humility, but that is the way to glory. Many things oppress you now, but everything shall serve you for the best. “Be anxious for nothing,” not for anything at all! Nothing is so bad – Jesus knows the remedy! “The worse it gets, the more you will conquer. You will find greater power if you will just fight.” “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Speak with God about everything. Whatever troubles you, lay it before Him, then it is no longer yours, but then the concern and the whole matter is the Lord’s. And thank Him for taking it on Himself. Do just as Paul says here. It is God Himself who speaks through him and offers us this joy. Pray and give thanks. Let endless thanksgiving follow your prayers. Submit to this command of God. You already have grace to do it. Do what God Himself says, and His peace will be victorious in you. At all times and in all places go to God with everything! If He does not take away outward trouble at once, if He doesn’t take away the worry and suffering of your heart all at once, then give Him the victory so that you can be thankful for the tribulation. So: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Closing Prayer
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light (Psa 36:7-9). Therefore give us Your Holy Spirit for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Hymn
Up and rejoice, now one and all,
Your mind and heart with joy be full;
In Christ is all your gladness.
For Jesus, He is now so near
And since He holds us all so dear
He wears our flesh and sadness.
Away with sorrow, care, and sin!
The joy of God now enters in.
We now embrace our Savior
With pray’r and faith and heartfelt thanks;
In Him is all our hope and rest;
His gladness fails us never.
Thy peace, O God, surpasses all
That mind and senses may befall!
Our mind and heart are ever
In Jesus Christ, that we may find
A Christmas joy of greatest kind
Which dims and fails not ever.
Kingo: Op Glædes alle Glædes nu L 127 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Kommt her zu mir (ELH 189); alternate hymn: Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts ELH 318:1-2