Rejoice (Part I): Fix Your Face!

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4; KJV)

This Scripture may be one of the most well-known in the Bible. Part of the reason for this is because many of us love the version of this Scripture made into song by Israel Houghton & New Breed. The more likely reason is that it is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. And, unfortunately, because it is such a short verse, we tend to think that we fully understand what it means to really rejoice.

In these times of emotional stress caused by people feeling unsafe for a variety of reasons, as well as economic stress, we really need to experience the joy of the Lord as our strength on a daily basis (Nehemiah 8:10). So, because we see the word “joy” in the word “rejoice”, we can probably see our need to fully understand this simple word in order for us to live our lives in the full strength of God, as He empowers us through His Holy Spirit.

But what does it really mean to rejoice? The word “rejoice” in this particular verse comes from a Greek word that means: Be Cheerful. Thus, the command is: Be cheerful in the Lord always, and again I say, Be Cheerful! Well, what does it mean to really be cheerful? Our English word for “cheer” interestingly enough is derived from a Late Latin word that means “Face”. This metaphorically means one’s mood, demeanor, or mental condition as reflected in one’s face.

So being cheerful means to have a face full of, in this case, joy. Because the word “joy” means “satisfaction”, this verse is telling us to have a face that is “full of satisfaction”. I realize this is tedious, but hang with me here! The word “satisfaction” or “satisfy” literally means “to do enough” or “enough has been done”. Thus, when I express that I am satisfied, I am saying that I’ve had enough or enough has been done for me.

So, what are we saying here? The term “rejoice in the Lord always” means: Have a face that fully expresses that the Lord has done enough for you! Put a smile on your face. Brighten up your eyes. Push up your cheeks. Let the reflection of your face in the mirror express that God not only has done enough, but the Lord is enough! In other words: Let’s fix our faces to fully express that having the Lord in our lives is enough!

If we are to be God’s New Testament Levites and Priests (Deuteronomy 10:8-9; 1 Peter 2:9), then we must live lives that fully reflect to the world around us that our God is enough. I invite your thoughts.