This morning when I woke up and greeted my girlfriend who came to get me dressed and sitting up in my wheelchair (her name is Dana), the first thing I said to her when she walked into my bedroom was, “Oh boy, Dana, we get to serve Jesus today!” Dana laughed. But, hey, it’s the way I have to wake up. I can’t be too glum or sour or peevish, even if I am a little tired – sometimes I’m just tired of quadriplegia. God's got me alive… I'm still here… and that means there’s a purpose and a plan. God has ordained this day for me to serve Him, and to serve Him with joy. And I'm not kidding: today it’s, “Oh boy, I get to serve the Lord today!”
Now, did you know that that kind of attitude is a command? Psalm 100 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” It’s not an option. Serving Him with gladness is not a nice suggestion, like God saying, “You know, today when you serve me, would you please smile? It would really mean a lot to me; it would be just great if you could get your attitude in line.” No, no, no, serving the Lord with gladness is not something He would like us to do… it’s something we are commanded to do.
We are to be happy about our service in God's kingdom, whether you’re a quadriplegic like me in a wheelchair, or whether you’re listening to me heading off to work, picking up or dropping off kids at school; whether you’re a student going to class, or if you’re in a nursing home or getting ready to lead a Bible study; whether you’re in full-time ministry or you work at a church, or if you’re a homemaker, cleaning dishes or doing laundry… friend, whatever it is, you are serving the Lord. And He says whatever you do, do it heartily (I love that word: “heartily,” in other words, happily) unto Him. Serve the Lord with gladness, with happiness, ’cause it’s not an option.
You know how I know that? Just listen to this verse. It is important and it’s something to remember as you go about your service as a Christian. I mean, this will get your attitude in line when you wake up in the morning and get ready for your day. It’s in the Bible… God is talking to the Israelites, and listen to what He says to His people in Deuteronomy 28:47, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly… you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you.”
There you have it. It’s not enough that you serve the Lord. You must serve Him joyfully and gladly. He is completely displeased with anything less. I would go so far as to say, given Deuteronomy 28, that He will not even bless such service when performed with a sour, bored, irritated, or resentful disposition. But, hey, that’s not you! C’mon and join Dana and me. Tomorrow when you wake up in the morning, kick-start your day – oh boy – and serve the Lord your God heartily, happily, and with God-honoring gladness.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends