Reasons for Rejoicing

UV 1791/10000 Reasons for Rejoicing
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5 v 2

Peace with God is the most fundamental and foundational peace. Faith in Jesus is the rock foundation on which all other peace rests and grows: peace with self, with others, peace in the family, peace with the world. The Lord gives us access to such peace by His grace. We can now rejoice in the hope of our salvation. We are no longer short of the glory or perfection of God purely by grace. Our faith enables us to now live a righteous life- a life acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. Christ in us gives us the hope of glory. We are now sure to see the glory of God or the power and the presence of God being manifest in our lives.

We build unlike others not on a temporal, physical foundation but on a spiritual foundation. We need to build on the rock foundation, the bed rock of Jesus. We cannot build our lives with inferior materials like hay and stubble but with precious metals and stones, implying that our lives, our thoughts, words and actions should be characterised by what is noble, true, beautiful, worthy of Christ. For the believer, his security needs with reference to Maslow’ s theory of the hierarchy of needs is met in Christ by a sense of complete assurance that the Lord will provide abundantly and protect effectively. The self esteem needs are replaced not by what others think of us or what we ourselves think but what the Lord thinks of us. Our self actualisation or self fulfilment need is also met in growing in spiritual maturity with the goal of reaching the full stature of Christ.

We have therefore many reasons to rejoice: we can rejoice in our absolute sense of security. We can rejoice that all our present and future needs are met in Christ whose grace is sufficient for us. We have unlimited access to Jesus by prayer and constant communication in the spirit. He gives us the key of David that enables us to access the treasures of heaven. We can rejoice in the hope of eternal life. No wonder scripture says, “ Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” The Lord wants to always fill us with joy while the enemy of our souls wants to kill our joy. The choices we make determines the results.

Prateep V Philip