Gladness: May 20, 2010

Today's Word for Thursday May 20, 2010

GLADNESS

DEFINITION

The feeling of joy or pleasure.

SCRIPTURE

"Serve the Lord with gladness." Psalm 100:2

"You have put gladness in my heart." Psalm 4:7

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Those who serve the Lord with a sad face, because for some reason they are unhappy about something, really are not serving Him at all. These types of people bring to the spiritual table a form of bowing down to God and seemingly worshipping Him, but their words and deeds do not show a love for their Lord in their everyday living with true gladness and service.

Our God is a God of love and He wants no slaves to grace His throne. In God's sight a slave is one that has not given his or her heart to the Lord. Thus there is no true gladness showing from their heart each day. These types of people will continually show sadness on their face because they are carrying the heavy burden of their world on their back. God has His servants dressed in joy and gladness not with sadness. The angels serve Him with joy not with groans. A murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in the ranks of the angels. The Lord looks at the heart and He can see that obedience that is forced and not voluntary is really disobedience.

Our service to God coupled with gladness and cheerfulness is true heart service and is what God wants from us. Cheerfulness and gladness is the support God gives us for our faith in the Lord. In the joy of the Lord we are strong. The joy of the Lord in our lives acts as a remover of difficulties. It is like what oil is to the wheels of a railroad car. Without oil the axle gets hot and accidents occur. We need the gladness and cheerfulness of the Lord in our lives. These act to oil our wheels. The man who is cheerful in his service to God shows the people of the world, non-believers, that it is a delight and joy to serve the Lord our God.

We encourage you first to take time to make sure you are doing all that God wants you to do by serving Him with gladness. Then take a few moments each day and look at the faces of those around you in the work place, your school, your neighborhood and even your church. You will see so many sad faces of concern. The least you can do is to pause a moment and ask God to give that person a heart of gladness. When you do this you will be surprised at the doors God will open for you to say a word of encouragement to someone.

You will soon find out as people talk to you the heavy burdens they are carrying. And most important your gladness will be increased and God will give you blessings beyond your most hoped for desire.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

"Commit your work to the Lord and your thoughts will be established."

PRAYER

Fill my heart today with gladness that You can only give.