Rejoice!

Has this never puzzled you?

Scripture repeatedly commands us to rejoice! Why is it an imperative? It should be pretty easy and nice to be happy! 

There are at least 25 verses in the Bible calling us to be glad in the Lord. 

Why is it that the Lord has to mandate us to be happy? 

•  Because we live in a world that is in a dark gloom of sin, suffering and misery with “…no hope and without God…” (Eph 2:12). And we forget that we are in this world, not of this world.  
•  Because we easily forget Jesus Christ who gave us His joy (John 15:11), and who “…for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)
•  Because it is unnatural. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. The joy that the Bible speaks about requires a supernatural indwelling and in-working. Men, as they are and in their own own strength cannot know that joy. That’s amazing! I mean, we see some seemingly happy people around… But they don’t have joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and thus worked out by that Spirit in those that submit their life to Christ and let their heart be filled by the influence of the Spirit. Our natural tendency is towards ingratitude. 
•  Because we are lazy or misled and do not cultivate our joy in the Lord. We are so self-focused that we forget that real joy can be found in the Lord alone. A neglect of personal time with God often precedes a lack of joy. The Lord and His promises are our sole source of joy. If we don’t draw near to God, we can’t rejoice in Him.
•  Because we fight among one another and rob each other of joy. There is no joy in the body when it is disjointed or in pain. The church is under attack in this individualistic society and believers need to strive to “…think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose, doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important…” (Phil 2:2b-3a)
•  Because we live in carnality and disobedience as described in Galatians 5:19-21. We cannot find joy in the Lord if we are too busy pursuing it in earthly pleasures.  
• Because of worry and anxiety. They choke out our life vitality and prevent us from seeing the good gifts from our Good Father. We fear for tomorrow and forget to rejoice today (Mat 6:25-34).

1 Pet 1:8 says “And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, YOU REJOICE WITH JOY INEXPRESSIBLE and full of glory.” (LSB) [emphasis mine]

Christian, may that be true of you and I: Rejoice!