Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoicing always is a command in scripture that seems to be unreachable at times. It’s easy to rejoice when things are going our way or circumstances are working out like we hoped. However, scripture holds us to this concept of rejoicing at all times even when we feel bad or things aren’t going our way. Recently, the Holy Spirit spoke to me concerning this word, and He led me to look at the original meaning of the word from the language the Holy Spirit chose to pen the earliest manuscripts – Greek.
The word rejoice literally means to delight in and experience God’s grace. Therefore, in all places and at all times the Lord wants us to draw from His all-sufficient grace (all that’s ours in Christ). That’s what it means to rejoice. Awesome, isn’t it! If that’s not encouraging, then wait until you hear what the word ‘thanks’ means because the above verses also direct us to give thanks in everything. In the Greek, the word thanks is taken from two words – the word ‘good’ and the word ‘grace.’ In essence, to give thanks is to acknowledge that God is good and to once again receive His all encompassing, empowering, abundant grace.
So, to rejoice always and to give thanks in everything is not really an emotion or expression. Rather, it’s an attitude that positions us to receive God’s grace. Much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).