Rejoice With Others!

October 9, 2025

Rejoice With Others!

It is easier for me to have empathy for those who are hurting than it is for me to celebrate with those who have just won a victory.

It’s not that I am not happy for the person who was just promoted, just won the game, just got engaged, or just achieved their best score, it’s that my empathy for the marginalized, the broken-hearted, the sick, the grieving, or those who are sad touches my heart in a very deep place.

The Christ-followers who were the church in first century Corinth were hurting.  There was continual arguing and bickering, there was constant conflict and accusations, there was ceaseless division and discord. 

The Apostle Paul knew the church was in trouble so he writes a series of letters to identify the problems and offer some guidance.  And then, towards the end of the letter we know as I Corinthians, Paul encourages the believers in that church to shift from criticizing and complaining as well as being grouchy and grumpy to rejoicing. 

It is an interesting shift of focus.  Paul is encouraging the people to shift from disagreement and disharmony to rejoicing and celebrating.  In I Corinthians 16:17-18 Paul writes; “I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.  So give recognition to such persons.”

It is like Paul is saying, “Do what I am doing; rejoice in the small things like your friends who refresh and energize your lives.”  However, that is not always easy.

+It is hard to focus on and rejoice in the good things God is doing through other people when we feel we are losing ground in our church, at our job, or in our family. 

+It is hard to focus on and rejoice in the amazing grace and tender mercy of the Lord when we feel we are always being put down, pushed to the side, or criticized. 

+It is hard to focus on and rejoice in the deep love Jesus has for us when we feel the people around us are nitpicking us, fussing at us, or finding fault in us.   

And yet, when we shift to rejoicing in the things the Holy Spirit is doing in us and in the people around us, our perspective changes, our heart is transformed, and our soul is revived.  In his letter to the churches in Rome, the Apostle Paul encourages the Christ-followers there to rejoice in the celebrations and victories of other people.  In Romans 12:15 Paul writes; “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”

+It is difficult to stay focused on rejoicing in what the Spirit is doing in us and through us when it seems He is doing so much more in other people. 

+It is a challenge to stay focused on rejoicing in the good things happening in the lives of other people when it seems our life is in a bit of a slump. 

+It is tough to stay focused on rejoicing with people in whom the Lord is doing amazing things when it seems the Lord is a bit distant in our life.

And yet, Jesus calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice, rejoice with those through whom the Spirit has brought refreshment to our life, and to rejoice with the people who have hurt us along life’s way.

I imagine you know someone who is struggling a bit right now.  Maybe their attitude is a bit negative, their thinking continues to lead them to a place of cynicism, or their perspective seems to be more critical than celebratory.

Make some time to share a cup of coffee with your friend. 

+Remind them of the Word of God that calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice. 

+Remind them that the Bible calls us to rejoice in what seems to be the very small things in someone’s life. 

+Remind them that because God is good, God is grace, and God is generous, we can choose to rejoice. 

When they choose to rejoice, their heart (and your heart!) will fill with delight in the Lord.  

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug