What is the shortest verse in the Bible? The most obvious answer is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” That answer is right and wrong. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in English translations. In the Greek New Testament, the shortest verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always.”  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 records three instructions: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This snapshot of spiritual devotion begins with rejoicing. “Rejoice” was a watchword among early Christians. The Greek term was used as a salutation. 

• Jesus used it as a greeting in Matthew 28:9. 
• Paul used it as a farewell in 2 Corinthians 13:11. 

We greet one another with “Hello” and “Goodbye.” What encouragement it would be if we entered and departedone another’s presence with a call to rejoice. Do you want to know and do God’s will? It is God’s will that you rejoice always. The verb is an imperative. It is in a grammatical emphasis that denotes continual or habitual action. The Christian life is to be characterized by joy. Rejoicing is a dominant and recurring theme in the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 succinctly states the theme, task, and time of Christian joy: “Rejoice always.” In the original, the wording is reversed: “always rejoice.” 

Charles Spurgeon said, “Happy people who can be thus exhorted! We ought to rejoice that there is a command to rejoice. Glory be unto the God of happiness who bids his children be happy.”

 What does it mean to rejoice always? 

Rejoice always as an act of obedience. The church at Thessalonica faced trouble, endured hardship, and suffered persecution. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells them how to respond to: “Rejoice always.” This is more than Paul’s pastoral counsel. It is a divine command. The Master orders us to rejoice. Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Yet the Spirit-fruit of joy is cultivated as we trust and obey. “Rejoicing always” is not an emotional response to positive stimuli. It is an act of obedience. 

• We rejoice because God tells us to rejoice. 
• We rejoice because the Bible says rejoice. 
• We rejoice because it is a sin not to rejoice. 

When God commands us to do something, it is our duty to obey. The chain of command does not permit discussion, debate, or disobedience. If God says it, that settles it. The word of God says, “Rejoice always.” Therefore, to not rejoice or to rejoice sometimes is a sin. Complaining, grumbling, or protesting against God is a sin. It is the sin of omission. James 4:17 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Divine commandment is divine enablement. Nike says, “Just do it.” God says, “I will help you fight for joy.” Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Rejoice always with confidence in God. A child plays on a swing. Someone the child does not know, like, or trust offers to push them. The child flatly refuses. But that child begs his father to push him. She screams, “Higher!” as her father pushes her. The difference is a matter of confident trust. Who’s pushing your swing? 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is not God telling you to do something impossible. This two-word command – “Rejoice always” – can be restated in another two-word command: “Trust me.” In a real sense, stubborn trust is stubborn joy. 

• Confidence in God produces incessant joy. 
• Confidence in God produces consummate joy. 
• Confidence in God produces surpassing joy.  

 Your pain may be severe. Your need may be immense. Your test may be vexing. But the size of your problem does not matter. What matters is its location. Either it is standing between you and God. Or it is pushing you closer to him. With all due respect, your trials, troubles, and tribulations do not compare to the sufferings of Job. Yet he did not give up, stop worshiping, or blame God. Job 1:21 says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” There are no miracles in Job. Miracles are cheap. They do not cost you anything. Job is about the invisible hand of divine providence. God wants to teach you to confidently say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!” whether he gives or takes away! 

Rejoice always in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Rejoice always” is a high calling. It is not as wide as it is high. This is a part of “the standing orders of the church.” Sinners cannot obey this command. They should not rejoice. Hosea 9:1 says, “Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God.” God-forsakers should not rejoice. James 4:9 says, “Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” If you repent of your sin and run to the cross, Christ will turn the sorrow of sin into the joy of salvation. 

• God is the source of Christian joy. 
• Jesus is the sphere of Christian joy. 

Christians rejoice always in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:1 says, “Finally, brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” Philippians 4:4 exhorts, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice.” The believer’s union with Christ sets Christianity apart from world religions. No one claims to be in Mohammed, Buddha, or Confucius. We are inChrist. Because we are in Christ, we are saved, sanctified, safe, secure, and strong. Joy is Jesus first, you last, nothing in between.

A certain king traveled often. One day, a man who lived near the palace remarked, “The king is home tonight.” His friend asked, “How do you know? “Because when the king is home,” he answered, “the palace is lit up.” Joy is the flag that flies over the believer’s heart to signify that the King is in residence. 

Rejoice always because you know the truth. Matthew 13:20-21 explains, “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation and persecution arise on account of the world, immediately he falls away.” Why do professing Christians “deconstruct” their faith and abandon the church? They receive the word with joy, but do not grow beyond sensual Christianity. Their faith is governed by their emotions. To rejoice always, faith must rest on facts. You cannot experience real joy with no truth, untruth, or half-truths. Bad theology cancels joy. The truth will set you free to rejoice always. John 15:11 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

A minister visited a sick member, who updated the pastor on his grave condition. When he finished, the minister noted that the medical team said he was the most joyful patient in the hospital. “How is that?” he asked. The member pointed to the Bible on the stand next to his bed. “When I am down,” he explained, “I take my medicine, and my joy is restored.” Are you depressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed? Take your medicine! 

Rejoice always as a ministry to others. The renowned psychiatrist, Karl Menninger, was asked, “What would you advise a person who felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Menninger replied, “Lock up your house, go across the railway tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.” 

Joy is not found in isolation from others. You don’t gain or keep joy by cutting others off. Joy is shared. As it relates to every facet of Christian stewardship, you receive as you give. 2 Corinthians 1:24 says, “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” This is a neglected aspect of pastoral ministry. We are workers for your joy. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” This ministry of joy is not limited to spiritual leaders. We should minister joy to one another. Philippians 2:17-18 says, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” This is the supra-cultural principle of Christian joy: The greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy. 

Rejoice always for the blessings you enjoy. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Why bless God? We blessed God because God has blessed us. Stop chasing blessings. In Christ, we are blessed.

• We have a hope that cannot be disappointed. 
• We have an inheritance that cannot be lost. 
• We have a life that cannot be forfeited. 
• We have a peace that cannot be disturbed. 
• We have a promise that cannot be broken. 
• We have a salvation that cannot be revoked. 
• We have a treasure that cannot be stolen. 

 Psalm 23:5 says, “My cup overflows.” Many cannot enjoy what is in their cup because they are preoccupied with what is in someone else’s cup. Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare. Don’t compete. Don’t complain. There are others who are better by accident than you are on purpose. Yet they are not here. It could have been another way.Rejoice always for the blessings you enjoy! 

Rejoice always in life’s ordinary affairs. Israel was in Babylonian Captivity. They sat by the waters and wept. They hung their lyres on the willows. Their captors required them to sing songs of Zion. Psalm 137:4 asks, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” This lament explains why many believers are unable to rejoice always. We handcuff our joy to a special time or place. 

• We can’t rejoice unless it is then. 
• We can’t rejoice unless we’re there.            

To rejoice always is to find joy in the ordinary without waiting on the extraordinary. Jacob must not confine his worship to Bethel. Moses must not confine his worship to the burning bush. David must not confine his worship to victories in battle. Isaiah must not confine his worship to temple visions. Peter must not confine his worship to the Mt. of Transfiguration. Paul must not confine his worship to the third heaven. John must not confine his worship to the revelation on Patmos. You must not confine your worship to good days, off days, Fridays, paydays, or birthdays.Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

Rejoice always in spite of how you may feel. “Rejoice always” distinguishes joy from happiness. Happiness is an emotional response to favorable, pleasant, or rewarding circumstances. You cannot compel a person to be happy. Happiness depends on what happens. It is thing-centered, people-centered, or event-centered. Joy is God-centered. Psalm 43:4 calls God “my exceeding joy.” Joy that is rooted and resting in God can rejoice always, despite how you feel. That does not mean that our worship should be a cerebral act devoid of emotion. God is not honored by stoic worship that is all head and no heart. Psalm 100:1-2 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” They used to sing, “I wouldn’t have a religion, I couldn’t feel sometimes.” But don’t trust your feelings. Your emotions will lie to you. When you don’t feel good about the situation, let 2 Corinthians 6:10 be your testimony: “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” 

Rejoice always, no matter your circumstances. John Macarthur said, “No event or circumstance in the Christian’s life, apart from sin, can or should diminish his true joy.” That’s the heart of this command. Circumstances should not dictate or determine your joy. Prosperity preachers claim that faith guarantees health, wealth, and success. Job 5:7 says, “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Job 14:1 says, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once. And he volunteered. Jesus chose the nails! Note that not even the sinless Son of God made it through this life without sorrow and suffering. Life is hard. But life is not God. God is God. God is good. Because God is good all the time, you should rejoice always, no matter your circumstances. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Rejoice always because the best is yet to come. When I was in school, math was my favorite class. English and history were my favorite subjects. But math was my favorite class, because the answers were in the back of the textbook. This is also a key reason why I love the Bible so much. The answers are in the book! The book says the best is yet to come!

• Your body may be sick. 
• Your career may be doomed. 
• Your faith may be tested. 
• Your finances may be depleted. 
• Your heart may be broken. 
• Your family may be divided. 
• Your funeral may be imminent. 

Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The story is not over. It’s to be continued! 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”