In Philippians 3:1 Paul knows that this phrase sounds a bit trite so he says, “For me to write the same thing is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” Rejoice in the Lord: Is the Christian equivalent of the Old Testament exclamation, Hallelujah. It is the mark of a spiritual life, a sign of the victorious Christian. The phrase is distinctively relational; in fact Paul uses it twice in this little letter here and 4:4! Paul had already defined obedience in 2:14 as without grumbling and complaining which are the signs of unbelief. Thus the sign of faith is rejoicing, “God said it, I believe Him, time to rejoice!”
Our rejoicing is not based upon our enjoying the difficulty, neither is it based upon God working the situation out according to our plans. Our rejoicing is in the reality that irrespective of our challenge God will be glorified and this difficulty will make us more like Him! The world’s view of followers of Christ is no smile or joy. There are some Christians who are just like Eeyore of Winnie the Pooh, that dismal donkey who always seems to find the cloud in the silver lining. The mark of a Christian is a smile of confidence, despite the circumstances. Not a forced one, but a genuine smile, sometimes through tears. It arises from a quiet trust, living out of our adequacy in the Lord despite living in the inadequacy of our flesh. We have within us One who is completely competent to meet every situation through us. It’s the kind of rejoicing that caused David to write the 23rd Psalm saying, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want!”