Posts Tagged ‘Rejoice’
How Happy Are You?
Posted on: 7-15-112015
Many years ago a friend of mine gave me a framed print of two little girls. One of the little girls had dark hair and a huge smile on her face. The other little girl was blond and had hers arms crossed in front of her with a scowl on her face. The caption underneath read, “Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw it because this picture was so us. It beautifully captured each of our personalities and even had our hair color correct. In case you’re wondering, the dark haired, generally happy-go-lucky girl depicted me and the blond haired, not so happy-go-lucky girl was her. I’ve been thinking a lot about what was written underneath the picture for the last several days since my daughter had a really rough encounter with one of her customers. Her store was having a giveaway and she and her employees were so excited to be able to reward someone with a prize. When it came time for the first winner, they were bursting with anticipation. When the told the customer her had won a prize, he responded in anger. He told her that he didn’t need the prize, nor did he want it. My daughter was stunned and it took her a few seconds to gain her composure enough to complete his transaction. When she told me about this, immediately I thought about this picture and knew this man had definitely decided not to be happy that day. I always find it amazing how people’s personalities are so different. Some people are always happy, even when the world around them is falling apart. Others are grumpy even in the best of circumstances. Most of us fluctuate somewhere in between these two personalities, but may lean more to one side than the other. As Christians, it’s important not to let our circumstances determine our level of joy. Christ alone is reason enough for us to rejoice in any situation. He is all we need to put a smile on our face!
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for you, because You defend them.” Psalm 5:11
Jumping for Joy
Posted on: 7-15-112012
- In: God | Jesus | Uncategorized
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We’ve probably all heard the expression “jumping for joy”, but have you ever pictured Jesus jumping up and down for joy? I confess that I haven’t! I can picture Jesus being happy, full of joy, laughing, and smiling, but to be so overjoyed that He jumps up and down has really never been a picture I have had of Him! However, I just discovered in a Beth Moore Bible study that I am doing that He did exactly that!
“In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Luke 10:21
In its original language the word used here for rejoice is “agalliao” which means “to exult, jump for joy, to show one’s joy by leaping and skipping, denoting excessive or ecstatic joy and delight.” This is different from the normal word used for rejoice which is “chara” which means “rejoicing and gladness”.
When I read that, I was simply amazed! What a precious picture of our Lord and Savior…leaping and jumping in response to His delight! What caused Jesus to react in such an enthusiastic way? In the preceding verses, we are given two possibilities:
1. Satan’s defeat – the disciples had just reported that they were able to overcome demons in the name of Jesus — any time Satan is defeated, Jesus rejoices, as should we
2. The disciples’ victory — nothing makes Jesus more delighted than to see His children living in victory because they have decided to walk in obedience to Him and to exercise their faith in Him (except possibly one of His children discovering Him for the first time)
As if the picture of Jesus leaping and jumping for joy is not precious enough, think of this picture…this very same Jesus leaps and jumps for joy over you! When you walk in obedience to Him and exercise your faith, He rejoices (agalliao) over you! Humbling thought, isn’t it? Humbling, but, oh so very sweet!
shani4jc 