Our Rejoicing and Joy in Christ Alone



"I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” -HABAKKUK 3:18 [KJV]

If ever, as we pass through this wilderness, we feel one drop of solid joy, of true happiness, it must flow, it can flow only from one source—the manifestation of Christ to our souls. This joy may be very transient: we may have to look upon it through a vista of many years; and doubts and fears may becloud the mind whether we ever rejoiced truly in Christ, or whether our joy might not have been "the joy of the hypocrite" that perisheth. And yet we are brought to this point—we can find joy and peace in Him alone. Sin, the world, the things of time and sense, business, amusement, pleasure so called, afford now no joy; there is an aching void, a feeling of dreariness and misery connected with everything short of communications of mercy, favour, and love. So that though we may not be enabled to say, 'we greatly rejoice at all times, in all places, at all seasons, in the Lord;' yet we can come to this point—we can rejoice in no other; we can take real pleasure in nothing else. One smile from the Lord, one word from His lips, one gracious breaking in of the light of His countenance does, while it lasts, communicate joy; and from no other quarter, from no other source can a moment's joy be drawn.

-Gospel report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
April 10th, EARS FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES

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