1月11日；
腓立比书 4:4；
唱诗：赞美诗35:1,5
你们要靠主常常喜乐。我再说，你们要喜乐。（腓4: 4）
昨天，我们看了《耶利米哀歌》，那是一部悲伤的书。今天的经文来自保罗写给腓立比信徒的信。这封信也被称为“喜乐之信”，因为它不断地提到要欢喜快乐。
我们被劝勉要靠主喜乐。事实上，这是一条命令，而不仅仅是一条建议。世俗的医学家会告诉我们，积极地思考和以快乐为目标是好的。但是主只是简单地命令我们：要常常喜乐。
我们如何告诉人们要喜乐？快乐不是基于众多令人愉快的事情吗？此外，谁能时时刻刻都快乐呢？在天路旅程上，我们要面对许多艰难和悲痛。因此，从我们的角度，我们不得不说这是一个不可能做到的命令。
保罗在写这封书信之时的处境并不乐观。他正在监狱里等待审判，很有可能被处决。但是，他仍然告诉腓立比的信徒要靠主喜乐。他甚至再三强调：“我再说，你们要喜乐！”
我们必须留意，这个喜乐是在主里的。我们的喜乐在于主耶稣基督已经为我们做的和仍然在为我们做的。我们的注意力要放在基督的救赎之工上。在外表上，我们可能不会每时每刻都欢欢喜喜的，毕竟生活多有磨难，但是基督是永恒不变的，昨天，今天，明天都是如此。
他每一天都与我们同在，永远同在。所以要喜乐！
思考问题：神怎么能够简单地命令我们要喜乐呢？
January 11;
Philippians 4:4;
Song: Hymn 35:1, 5
REJOICE ALWAYS
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Yesterday, we looked at a passage in Lamentations, the book of sorrows. The text for today is taken from Paul's letter to the Philippians. This letter is often called "the letter of joy" because of its many references to joy and rejoicing.
We are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord always. Actually, this is a command, not merely a piece of advice. Worldly therapists will tell us that it is good to be a positive thinker and to be joy-oriented. But the Lord commands us simply: rejoice always.
How can we tell people to rejoice? Does happiness not depend on a lot of pleasing circumstances? Beside, who can be happy all the time? In our life en route, we will face many trials and sorrows. From our viewpoint, therefore, we have to say that this is an impossible command.
Paul's circumstances at the time of writing are not very good. He is in prison, awaiting his sentence. Execution is a real possibility. Yet, he tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. He even repeats it: "I will say it again: Rejoice!"
We must take note that this joy is in the Lord. We are to rejoice in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done and still does for us. Our focus must be on his work of salvation. We may not always rejoice in our outward circumstances, for there are difficult times in life, but Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
He is with us every day, all day. Rejoice!
Question:How can the Lord simply command us to rejoice?
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