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

I love classic movies! Especially those that are set in small towns with big Victorian homes lining the streets. There are white picket fences, wooden porch swings and large shade trees in the yards. And, if you were to go to the door, inevitably a full staff of servants awaits, ready to open the door and greet you with “how may I serve you?”.

Now in their hearts they maybe saying “I wish you’d go fly a kite, in a lightening storm.” But on the outside, they are the dutiful and ever reliable servant. Lol

I sometimes feel like that is how I am with God. Everything could be picture perfect, but when I approach the Lord with “How may I serve you?”, only he knows how sincere I am.

Our day starts, alarm goes off, sun comes up and feet hit the floor and it’s “morning Lord, how may I serve you today?”

But, do I mean it? I certainly am not saying in my heart “I wish you’d go fly a kite in a lightening storm”. But, there are also days that I’ve just mouthed the words “how may I serve you today?” and been more self focused than I am heaven focused.

This Christian life is a never ending series of choices. We choose to accept God’s free gift of salvation and follow Christ, we choose to spend quiet time with Him, we choose to read His word, we choose to put on the Armor of God as we head into the world, we choose whether to put on joy and peace and we choose how diligently we will serve Him, or we choose not to do these things.

I’ve said it before, we will have all of eternity to praise God, but only this short life to serve Him and point others to Him.

None of us can be sinless (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23). We are not forgiven because we are good, we are forgiven because He is good. He doesn’t love us because of the depth of our love for Him, we love him because of the depth of His love for us (We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19). We couldn’t pay the penalty for our own sins, so God sent His one and only son, to pay the penalty for us, by being mocked, beaten and crucified, even unto death. But praise God that He then raised Jesus from the dead to sit at His right hand, in Heaven and Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us (“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3.)

And what does He require? “Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Does our God, who has gone to these lengths to insure that we would have an opportunity to spend eternity with Him, not deserve our service? And why does He want our service, for His own selfish reasons? NO, He desires our service so that we would glorify Him to others, so that He can rescue them from the penalty of their sin? (“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16)

Brothers and sisters, I pray that the suffering of our Savior, the incomprehensible love of our Heavenly Father and the eternal lives of those around us would move us to service. I pray that today we would greet the Lord, with a deep, heartfelt, “How can I serve you today Lord?”, instead of wondering how He can serve us. I pray that we would be motivated to action, like a soldier to war. And I pray that your obedience to serve Him, would not only have an eternal impact on those around you, but that it would also bless you greatly. Serve Him with gladness, Jesus served us with gladness, don’t we owe it to Him?

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and have never experienced the great love that our Heavenly Father has for you, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page right now and pray the prayer that is outlined there. I promise you that if you will pray with your whole heart, God will forgive you and the love and peace that you will find in Him surpasses anything you have ever know. Please pray that prayer, and once you do, let me know by shooting me an email at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to welcome you to the family, of God, and be in prayer for you.

Luv Ya!