TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 26, 2014.
GLADNESS
The feeling of joy or pleasure.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2.
You have put gladness in my heart. Psalm 4:7.
Those who do not know what it is to have their sins forgiven and be a child of God think that those who do know Jesus could not possibly be happy. They feel being a Christian is a sad life. They feel serving the Lord comes at a high cost. They do not want to give up their worldly sinful pleasures. Many go to church because they feel it is an obligation.
This type of person comes to God, seemingly worshipping Him but their words and deeds do not show a love for their Lord. They are not serving Him with true gladness and worship.
These types of people will continually show sadness on their face because they are carrying the heavy burden of reluctant obedience. God puts joy and gladness in the hearts of those who love Him. Those who love Him serve Him with gladness. The angels serve Him with joy not with groans. A murmur or a sigh would be 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 through the work of His Holy Spirit in us that comes as a result of our faith in the Lord. Knowing Jesus as our Savior brings peace with God and fellowship with Him. In the joy of the Lord we have real gladness.
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.
Gladness in serving the Lord is what the people of Judah experienced when Hezekiah became King and reopened the temple in Jerusalem for worship. His father Ahaz had shut the temple doors and led the people of Judah into idol worship. In the first month of his reign King Hezekiah opened and repaired the temple doors and brought back the priests to consecrate and purify the temple. When the temple was ready the people came and the “whole assembly bowed in worship. They sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped.” II Chronicles 29: 28-30.
We encourage you to worship and serve the Lord with gladness. When you attend church and see someone who seems sad and is missing the gladness of worshipping the Lord, take a moment to pray for them and ask God to give that person a heart of joy and gladness. When you pray for someone, God may give you opportunity to say a word of encouragement to them.
You will often find out as you talk to people the heavy burdens they are carrying. When you show you care, you will experience gladness in serving the Lord.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Luke 2:11.
For today in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Fill my heart today with gladness that You alone can give. May others see me as one who serves Jesus with gladness.
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