Scripture Text: "Rejoice evermore." ! Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV)

Probably more than yesterday, you're probably wanting to ask (in light of our text for today), "What does Love have to do with that?"

I realize that I changed the title of our series a bit there, but only because it was so appropriate.

REJOICE EVERMORE? What does Love have to do with that?

One of the greatest misconceptions of man is that the outstretched arm of love is about relationships between man and wife, or parent and child, sibling to sibling, or man or woman to his country which is the ultimate outstretched arm of love to all fellowman. But how does that all fit into today's text? 

Well, let me ask you, "What is it that makes you truly happy". Is it a nice raise or a new position in your current company? Those things are nice but with a new position - especially one that comes with a pay raise, soon lends itself to stress that is beyond belief, and where you were comfortable in your old job, now you are awarded the banner of, "We're expecting great things from you;" which is in and of itself a badge of honor, but if not handled properly can become an albatross of emotion that will steal your  joy and upset your stomach to the nth degree.

So what is it that makes you happy? Is it the birth of a child - maybe your first, and you now hold within your arms the ultimate result of your love between you and your spouse. Oh but let me tell you from experience... as they get older you face childhood diseases; threats to their well-being while at school or going to and from school. You worry about them getting involved with the wrong crowd - or worse yet... a teacher who's interest in them is not entirely professional. You worry about you daughters and your sons when they begin dating and if you have been clear enough about the relationship between guys and gals especially in a  world where physical innuendos are encouraged by television, music CDs, and worse yet by their peers at school - and I've just touched the surface there.

So what is it that makes you happy enough to get "tuned in" to today's text of being able to REJOICE EVERMORE?

We could literally go on and on and on today until someone would finally say that they only way we can be happy enough to "REJOICE EVERMORE" is to be happy in Jesus.

Now I said this just last week but I want to say it again here today because it is so applicable to what we're talking about today.

Unless your Vertical relationship with Jesus is right... you may as well forget your horizontal relationships. That is the key to "Joy unspeakable and full of Glory". It is that joy in the Holy Ghost coming from a view of pardon by the blood of Jesus; of our justification by "His" righteousness, that you and I can rejoice in our wickedness.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those that believes that you can get saved and then do whatever you want no matter how ungodly and still be saved and go to Heaven. Even Paul said...

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Rom 6:1 (KJV)

Rejoicing in our wickedness means that we know what we deserve and if we got what we deserved... many of us, we would have already been consumed.

Friend, if you're having problems with your horizontal relationships meaning those whom you deal with on a daily basis... perhaps your problem is that you vertical relationship has weeds growing up around it and the JOY OF THE LORD - which is to be our strength has been choked out - by our neglect, and we need to start on our knees and look up - before we reach out, look out or in some cases... walk out on what was ordained of God for your life.

We're going to start there tomorrow, but I cannot close today's devotional without asking you where you stand with your VERTICAL relationship with God. Its like any other Garden my friend... if you don't weed it and cultivate it - which by the way,  means: "to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention"... you will never do very well with your Horizontal relationships. That's the primary reason that so many marriages fail is because they have little or no fellowship with the Master - who alone can heal our hurts and release our heavy burdens and make us whole again.

Let's pray.

Father: I know that even in my own life with some of my very closest acquaintances and friends, I have failed in our dialogue or in  our work together because I had been so busy working "for" you, that I had little time "with" you. Thank you for this reminder that as a Christian, my life is supposed to be Joyful and I am not supposed to share my load with others - but that if my heart is right  and I have been in fellowship with you... I can in turn share their load and lead them to the foot of the Cross where they too may be  set in right standing once again to live in the abundance and Joy that only you can give through Your Son Jesus. Use me today father to be that vessel of Love in Jesus' Name to someone else. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.