Scripture tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. And God seems to know that we need to hear an exhortation often for, after telling us once, He says through the Apostle Paul, “again I say, Rejoice.” The gospel is good news. And good news makes its recipients glad. It is easy for us to forget just how good the Lord has been to us, so in His undeserved kindness He has given us this table to remind us. Here we eat, drink, and are made glad.

Why?

Because the Lord has forgiven our iniquities. He heals all of our diseases. He redeems our lives from destruction and crowns us with tender mercies. He satisfies our mouths with good things and renews our strength like the eagle’s.

Every one of us who now come to this table deserved to go to hell. And many men and women like us who deserved to go to hell will actually end up there. What makes us different from them? Not our strength. Not our intellect. Not a shred of morality that we somehow kept after Adam’s fall and presented to God so that we might woo Him toward us with salvation.

The difference between us and them is quite simple: God’s steadfast love. He set this love upon us when we had nothing but the ashes from the house we burned down. And when we were there in our filth, this infinite God of wrath and mercy set His favor on us in love.

Now we have been made a people. We have been crowned. We have the robe of Christ’s righteousness. We have Christ and all of His benefits. Goodness and mercy will hound you every Tuesday and Thursday for the rest of your lives, and all of the other days of the week included. So rejoice in the Lord always, come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ.