Too often we end our road with tears, depression, anxiety, frustration, anger, resentment, etc. These we allow to be where we STOP, and then we brood over or lament over or complain about the “plight” of our life. We do this to others, to God and even oppressively to ourselves. Matthew tells me here that it does not END there!!!!! Regardless of the path, regardless of the experience and regardless of what it looks like…the end should be REJOICING!!! When my day has been a good one, and my spirit leaps with joy….REJOICE. When I make it through a situation that I did not think that I would make it through…REJOICE! BUT ALSO… When I have a bad day and end up tired and worn…REJOICE! When my enemy digs ditches for me and I fall in injured and dejected…REJOICE! When I can’t see my way and God seems to be afar off…REJOICE! Now these last three don’t make any sense. What am I rejoicing about? The later parts of this scripture tell us why I should STILL be rejoicing…the REWARD and the COMPANY! God is going to reward us for our sufferings, and we only put ourselves in the company of the great patriarchs and matriarchs that suffered before us for the sake of the Gospel!!!
