腓立比書 4:4-9
4 你們要靠主常常喜樂。 我再說， 你們要喜樂。 5 當叫眾人知道你們謙讓的心。 主已經近了。 6 應當一無罣慮， 只要凡事藉著禱告、 祈求， 和感謝， 將你們所要的告訴神。 7 神所賜、 出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。 8 弟兄們， 我還有未盡的話： 凡是真實的、 可敬的、 公義的、 清潔的、 可愛的、 有美名的， 若有甚麼德行， 若有甚麼稱讚， 這些事你們都要思念。 9 你們在我身上所學習的， 所領受的， 所聽見的， 所看見的， 這些事你們都要去行， 賜平安的神就必與你們同在。
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS! This is the personal testimony of the Apostle Paul, just in front of the Philippian Christians. When he first evangelized at Philippi, Paul ended up in prison. Yet about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God! Can you imagine that? Two prisoners, in the middle of night, with many wounds, gave Praise to the LORD! Other prisoners were puzzled! Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. What an amazing testimony!
When about 10 years later Paul wrote Philippians, he was again in prison, but this time in Rome. Still, his command is rejoicing in the Lord Aways!
Once you choose to turn your eyes upon Jesus, there is something surpassing all understanding, that will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We may have many excuses to be anxious, but let’s remember God’s promise and command: Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS! Again I will say, rejoice!
