The Worship Quote of the Week for (08/02/2005):

Rejoice in God What does it mean to “rejoice in God,” or “exult in God”? Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is taken from John Stott’s commentary on the book of Romans, looking specifically at Romans 5:11, “More than that, we also rejoice in God through the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have received reconciliation.” REJOICE IN GOD Christian exultation in God begins with the shamefaced recognition that we have no claim on him at all, continues with wondering worship that while we were still sinners and enemies Christ died for us, and ends with the humble confidence that he will complete the work he has begun. So to exult in God is to rejoice not in our privileges but in his mercies, not in our possession of him but in his of us. In spite of our knowledge that for Christian people all boasting is excluded (Rom. 3:27), we nevertheless boast or rejoice in our hope of sharing God’s glory (Rom. 5:2), in our tribulations (Rom. 5:3) and above all in God himself (Rom. 5:11). This exulting is THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, because it is through him that WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED (“the” or “our”) RECONCILIATION (v. 11). It seems clear from this paragraph, then, that the major mark of justified believers is joy, especially joy in God himself. We should be the most positive people in the world. For the new community of Jesus Christ is characterized not by a self-centered triumphalism but by a God-centered worship. — John Stott, from ROMANS: GOD’S GOOD NEWS FOR THE WORLD. Downers Grove: InterVartsity Press, 1994, pp. 147-48. ISBN: 0-8308-1692-5. [Have you notice that our natural “joy factor” is so often tied to material possessions or positions of comfort or significance? I suggest that Satan delights in the shallowness of our joy. The Scriptures shows us again and again that we are to find our joy in God himself, not in our present comforts. Paul tells us that believers even “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5).] Rejoice in God! Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org ===========================