15 November | Youth
«Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!» Philippians 4:4
I know some people who smile easily. They always seem to be happy with life. For them, joy is the natural state of the heart. Not everyone is like that. All of us are born with the potential for joy. Observe how kids are. Overall, they live a celebration of life. Their games are noisy and funny. Watch them play and you will find yourself smiling at their creativity. They do not need much to be happy.
In Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis recounts his journey from atheism to authentic Christianity. He walked this path trying to discover what was the source of the joy he had experienced in childhood. The experience of conversion, as Jesus said, makes us similar to children. We smile with our hearts again. But when did everything get so serious? At what point do we lose the ability to have a good laugh? Why did the laughter disappear from our faces?
Paul was in a Roman prison. Therefore, the church of Philippi sent one of its leaders, Epaphroditus, to encourage the apostle and help him in his needs. When he returned to Philippi, Epaphroditus took a letter from Paul to encourage and instruct the church. In it, the apostle affirms his complete satisfaction and joy in Christ, even in the face of the serious problems he faced.
In each chapter, he shows the supreme place of Jesus in his life. As we read this epistle, we understand that rejoicing in Christ is the first priority of the Christian life. There is nothing like joy to cure the bitterness of existence. Happiness is therapeutic.
Who was this prisoner who taught the church to rejoice? He repeats this commandment three times (3:1; 4:1; 4:4) as if establishing a new principle. In Christ, we can experience real happiness. Learn to depend on Him, and true joy will be a reality in your life.