June 11

And rejoice in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:3.

WE are here informed of the source of the Christian’s joy. Every thing deemed worthy of the name of joy to the Christian he finds in his Saviour, and in him only. Hence the name by which he is known:-“The Consolation of Israel.” Hence what Lamech said to his wife, upon the birth of Noah, will apply more fully to him of whom Noah was a mere type:- “This same shall comfort us.” Thus we find the prophets of old, whenever they would comfort the church of God, either in her external afflictions or in her internal distresses, lead forward their views at once to his coming. Ah! it will be better soon; ah! his coming will make amends for all.

In what a wretched, desolate state was the kingdom of Judah, owing to the invasion of these two “firebrands,” Bezin, and Bemaliah’s son, when Isaiah rushed forth among them, and said, “Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire; [that is, his victory shall be final, and shall even destroy the very implements of war;] for unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Zechariah prophesied amidst all the confusion and discouragements and the opposition attending the return of the Jews from Babylon to their own land; but, said he, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.”

And David considered his approach as a summons to the whole universe to triumph:-“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh, for he cometh to judge [that is, he shall rule and govern] the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” Hence the message of the angel to the shepherds:-“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

And hence the apostle says to the Corinthians, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” The words are hardly intelligible as they now stand: give them their proper order, this is their meaning unquestionably:-“I die daily. I do so, I protest, by the joy which you and I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, when we appeal, and when we swear by any thing, it is by something that is most obvious and undeniable; and the apostle could think of nothing more so than the joy which he and his brethren had in Christ Jesus their Lord. Therefore also he here says to the Philippians, “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh.” Therefore, also, he said to them, “Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice.”

Rejoice not in the creature, but in Christ; not in yourselves, (you are only so many cells of emptiness,) but in Him who is “full of grace and truth.” Oh, there is enough in him to relieve every want, to fulfil every hope, to surpass every wish. Am I lost? “It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Am I enslaved? “He has redeemed us unto God by his blood.” Am I guilty? He is “the Lord our righteousness.” Am I poor? “He has unsearchable riches.” Am I weak? “His strength is made perfect in weakness.” Am I opposed? “His grace is sufficient for me.” Am I destitute? “It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” and we are “blessed in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”

There is no light-not a ray-but beams down upon us from him, “the Sun of righteousness;” there is no living stream that flows but comes from him, the Fountain of “living waters.” “If any man thirst,” says he, “let him come unto me and drink.” “He is All, and in all.”