The Missing Commandment

Share Now

When I was a little girl, the authority figures in my life — parents, preachers, Sunday School teachers, school teachers — agreed about several commandments we children were supposed to obey. All of them told us not to lie. They told us not to steal. They told us not to take the Lord’s name in vain. They told us not to murder.

There is one Biblical commandment, though, that I don’t remember hearing anyone discuss. This is how the Bible puts it one of the many times the command is repeated.

Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

Jesus told us to rejoice — in very difficult circumstances. He taught us to “rejoice and be glad” when people insult us and persecute us and speak falsely against us because of Him. (Matthew 5:11-12).

Jesus taught us to rejoice in God’s promise for our future. In Luke 10, He sent out seventy people in pairs of two, so they could go into the cities and places where He would come later. When the seventy came back, Jesus told them to rejoice because their names were recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20).

As seen in Philippians 4 and in 1 Thessalonians 5, commands to rejoice often have instructions on how often to do it.

Rejoice always; 
pray without ceasing; 
in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

One of the last things Paul told the Corinthians was this:

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete,
be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace;
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

And he told the Romans one of my favorite verses:

Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15.

It is a favorite because to share rejoicing and weeping is some of the sweetest fellowship available to us on earth. That fellowship was important to Paul, too. He asked the Philippians to share it with him.

But even if I am being poured out
as a drink offering upon the sacrifice
and service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 
You too, I urge you,
rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. 
Philippians 2:17-18

In chapter 3, Paul tells Christians to “rejoice in the Lord.” Then, as we read in chapter 4 at the top of this post, he repeats the command — twice.

Yesterday Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus’ disciples learned about His resurrection firsthand from Jesus Himself, they responded in the most natural way imaginable:

Share Now