“ Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4.4)
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
‘Rejoice,’ St. Paul tells us this morning. ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ Why? Because, ‘The Lord is at hand.’ He is very near. His return is imminent. Our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Who shall save us and change us and take us up into His Father’s house of many mansions, He is coming soon! So, rejoice!
‘Let your moderation be known unto all men.’ That is, ‘Be gentle with one another. Be gentle with your tongue, for it can be like a wild fire raging out of control, and full of deadly poison. Before you let loose with it, try to hold your tongue and see the other person’s view. Remember that Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,’ and rejoice. Don’t worry, God knows what the truth is; you do not need to settle all the questions and correct all wrong perceptions and settle all the misunderstandings. Trust in the Lord and be at peace. Let your moderation and gentleness be known unto everyone.
And try not to be anxious. The Lord – the One with all power and authority – Who died and rose again to dispel every darkness of Satan and sin, including the great darkness of death, He is at hand. So, why be anxious? Through Him all things were made that have been made; and by Him all things are redeemed and changed. Do you believe this? Then lay your worries aside and put your hand in the Hand of Him Who knows and sees and governs all things. Instead of laying awake at night; instead of running around in circles wringing your hands and trying to control circumstances that are beyond you; instead of all this panic, let your requests be known unto God. In Him alone there is peace – a peace which the world cannot give. In Him there is perfect peace which passes all understanding.
The Lord is at hand. Look for Him. Seek Him first above everything else. Turn your heart to Him first thing in the morning. Open your mind to His Truth and Grace throughout the day. Practice this: think about Him often, and then you will know that He truly is at hand. And remember, you will always find Him amongst the little people and the lonely, the suffering and the poor. Because He Himself was like a lamb; the Man of sorrows, Who acquainted Himself with grief for us. The Lord is at hand. Find Him. Look for Him. …Behold Him. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.Behold Him and rejoice.
Saint George's Anglican Church
