Tag: forever faithful
Rejoicing in Worship
Scripture reading for September 18: Psalm 100:2-5 “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
When a person is sick and under attack from disease, it is not easy to rejoice and be glad. Why would God place this psalm in the worship manual for His people? Why would the apostle Paul tell the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord–always? Let’s look into this instruction and see how it helps those who are weighted down.
The psalmist wrote to call God’s people to worship Him. Worship shouldn’t depend on our circumstances, health, or location. God’s people can enjoy His presence at all times under the New Covenant. In the psalmist’s time, the temple was the place to meet with God. A thankful heart always sets the tone for coming before God. We can thank Him because He is God! There is none beside Him! He made us and created us to be His people. As His people, our Lord as a Shepherd, cares for each person. He is a ‘Good’ Shepherd and loves His sheep. He faithfully leads them to green pastures and to quiet waters. He restores each soul and feeds them with encouragement and love. Since God never changes, this applies to all generations.
The apostle Paul, in Philippians, was in jail and faced possible execution. He wrote to the church to encourage them. As they met together, they became the temple and God was in their midst. This was cause for rejoicing in the Lord! They could rejoice always, because they gave their worries to God in prayer and His peace guarded their hearts. God would meet all of their needs and empower them in difficult circumstances. They must learn to rejoice always to overcome and enter His eternal kingdom.
Prayer: Father God, I cast all my anxieties on You because You care for me. I come thankfully into Your presence with praise and joy, delighting in Your eternal goodness! Amen.