TODAY'S WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 6, 2017.
GLADNESS
DEFINITION:
The feeling of joy or pleasure; emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2.
You have put gladness in my heart. Psalm 4:7.
I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my body will rest secure. Psalm 16:8-9.
Gladness is defined as an emotion of joy evoked by well-being. Gladness does not come from laughter or pleasure that comes from outward experiences. Gladness comes from a satisfied heart and feeling content independent of our circumstances.
God puts joy and gladness in the hearts of those who love Him.
David recognized that the gladness he felt in his heart came from the Lord and that is why he said, “I have set the Lord always before me.” His heart was glad because knowing the Lord was with him he could rest secure.
Those who love Him serve Him with gladness and desire to be obedient to Him.
The scriptures tell us about angels who serve God with joy not with groans. A murmur or a sigh would be mutiny in the ranks of the angels.
The Lord looks at our 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. The gladness and cheerfulness of the Lord 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 Joshua 24:15.
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve 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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