Deuteronomy 28:47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

We recognize that Deuteronomy 28 deals specifically with the blessings and curses of the law. Blessings-if we obey and curses if we disobey. What really caught my attention was that the Lord specifically said we are to serve Him with joy and gladness. Why is this so important? I believe that one of the main reasons is that we serve the mighty God that created every living thing that exists. It certainly isn’t a drudgery to serve someone who loves, cares, and has made provision for us like Him. As you know, there are many religions in the world today that endeavor to work their way towards righteousness rather than receive the free gift of God’s grace and salvation. This is why there is no joy in religions that try to work for something that the Lord has already provided.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

I think some people think this verse says to serve the Lord with sadness! No, it says we serve the Lord with gladness. This is what makes the gospel extremely attractive to those that don’t know the Lord. Why would someone want to serve the Lord if there is no joy in it? Looking back on my life as a young Christian I noticed that the people that impacted me the most were the ones who were joyful and happy. I knew they had something real and it made the gospel so much more attractive to me. Begin today by just being kind to people and smiling at them when you have the opportunity. Chances are if people like what they see on your face they will want what is in your heart. Maybe you don’t feel like smiling today but begin to do it by faith and soon enough it will impact your entire being.

Speak the Word:
I will serve the Lord with joy and gladness today expressing God’s character and nature to those around me.