Quotable

“Rejoice in the Lord!”  Circumstances may at times be anything but conducive to either peace or gladness, yet the trusting soul can always look above the fitful scenes of earth to the throne where Christ sits exalted as Lord at God’s right hand. He is over all. There are no second causes with Him.... Knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose,” why should the believer either doubt or fear? Waves may roll high, stormy winds may beat tempestuously, all to which the heart had clung may seem to be swept away, but Christ abides unchanged and unchangeable, the everlasting portion of those who trust His grace.

We read on one occasion how David, when the people spoke of stoning him because of a calamitous event for which they held him largely responsible, “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”  “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” Nehemiah reminded the remnant of Israel. Before returning to the Father’s house from which He came, the Lord Jesus imparted His joy to the trembling company of His disciples. Therefore, it is not only the Christian’s privilege, but we may even say his duty, to constantly rejoice in the Lord. Holiness and happiness are intimately linked together. It is well that we should frequently be exhorted to “rejoice in the Lord.”

—H. A. Ironside