REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 21ST NOVEMBER 2018

MEMORISE:
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15

READ: Romans 12:15-16

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

MESSAGE

It’s not so hard to mourn with those who mourn. It is relatively easy to feel the loss of a grieving person and to experience genuine sadness for their loss. 

Job 2:11-13 gives us an example of what it means to mourn with those who mourn. It says:

“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”

These verses of scripture show that it's a part of human nature to mourn with those who mourn. There are even times when you do not personally know the person who has experienced a great loss, but after hearing their story, you become very sad. 

However, it is also part of human nature to be selfish. A natural man is very satisfied as long as no one around him gets anything better than what he has. 

Everyone wants the best for himself or herself. When that best goes to someone else, it becomes very hard to be genuinely happy for that person. This is a very dangerous human trait that every Christian must not allow in his or her life. 

The nature of God that we bear does not have such character trait. His instruction to us in today's memory verse clearly shows what He expects of us in such circumstances, and we should take it very seriously.

How can we rejoice with those who rejoice? First, you have to stop comparing yourself with others. The moment you start looking at others and comparing what they have with what you have, you will soon meet with destruction. 

In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus told a very interesting story of several men hired at different hours of the day. The men who were hired first were very satisfied with being paid a penny each. 

However, at the end of the work day, they were unhappy when they received this exact amount. Why? It was because they were comparing themselves with the other hired men who had worked for shorter hours and got paid the same amount as them. 

The master told them to take what had been given to them and go their own way, rather than focus negatively on what he had chosen to do for others. Secondly, pray for those you envy. When you genuinely pray for someone frequently and long enough, it becomes hard to nurse any hard feelings towards them. 

Finally, be thankful at all times. Always remember that there are people in worse situations compared to you; therefore be grateful and content always.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me grace to genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 19-20, Luke 24:36-53

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1. I Need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Chorus:
I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh bless me now, my Saviour;
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour;
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their pow'r
When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.