Singing with Grace in Our Hearts to Jesus - Part 557

This is the day that the Lord hath made. Rejoice in this day and be glad in it. (Psalms 118:24)

Further, let the Word -- Jesus -- dwell continually in our hearts, minds and souls -- richly in all wisdom and teaching, admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord thy God, our Saviour. For whatsoever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus. (Collosians 3:16-17)

We have so many reasons to rejoice. First and foremost, we know personally the God who holds the universe in the palm of His hands. He shed His precious blood on the cross so that we might be saved. Indeed, the Bible calls us the elect. And as the elect, God has stated that we are holy and beloved. His beloved. 

Often, however, the cares of this world tend to dominate our lives and as a consequence, our ability to rejoice in Jesus is impeded. But when we read the Bible, there are more than enough examples instructing us to rejoice in the Lord. To be glad in His mercies and goodness. To take delight in our salvation. 

Hannah in I Samuel 2:1, for example, prayed and said, "My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

In Deuteronomy 30:9, the Lord God promised to "make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers." 

Yes, the Lord God who created us and loved us so much that He would become flesh and shed His blood for us wants to bless us and make us plenteous in "every" work of our hands. Bless us in His abundance. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

This is why the Lord rejoices over even one of us who seek salvation and His goodness. His mercies. The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 alludes to this. Therein, Jesus said, "A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of good that falleth to me." And the father divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land and he began to be in want. 

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat,  and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare and I perish with hunger?"

The moment of revelation whereby the prodigal son realizes that we can worry about the cares of this world, or we can seek Jesus our Saviour and let His kingdom flourish in our hearts. The son decides to "arise and go to my father and will say unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring
on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and
be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to 
be merry.

So rejoice in your salvation. Be glad in Jesus because He knows the innermost thoughts within our
hearts. Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, 
and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you,
so you also do. Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead and Jesus will give you light.” 

Most of all, glory in Jesus' name. Let us seek our Saviour in all aspects of our lives, singing joyfully 
in our hearts. When we get to this point, like the prodigal son, the cares of this world will no longer
impede us from worshipping our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.