Verse of the Day - Philippians 4:4

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"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."
Philippians 4:4, NRSV

When our relationship with God is purely transactional (I'll do this for you if you do this for me) it's difficult to find joy, especially in the midst of suffering or disappointment. But, when our relationship with God is not transactional, when it doesn't depend upon any kind of quid pro quo but instead is built on the understanding that God loves us, then it becomes possible to rejoice in the Lord always.

It becomes possible to rejoice in God, because we’re able to stop blaming God for some invisible contract that we believe God’s broken. This is often what we do with family, the ones who love us and in whom we rejoice and with whom we suffer, because we don't perceive them as being present merely to do something for us. We have a relationship with them first, and everything else is second.

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