Serving with Gladness

Do you believe in divine appointments? There are events in our life when God leads us to serve Him. Things out of the ordinary or an uncommon break from the usual things we do. Maybe a stranger needed help and it so happened you were there. A friend needed a listening ear and you were there to listen. You even gave words of encouragement. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly and you end up sharing the love and goodness of God.

These are opportunities to serve God. I believe God placed them there for good reasons.

We may not have these unexpected opportunities all the time but we do have everyday opportunities to serve God in the area He called us to do.

When Jesus Christ was with His disciples, He modeled to them what serving is. Servanthood is what marked the life of Jesus Christ on earth. He gave them specific instructions to minister to the lost people of Israel in Matthew 10. And when it was time for Him to ascend back to heaven, He commanded them to teach others and make disciples.

“Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ ”

– Matthew 28:18-20 (WEB)

Serving is the will of God for all who follow Jesus Christ. We imitate Christ.

Serve with gladness. Serving God and serving others are to be joyful works.

Admittedly, there are times when we may feel encumbered or burdened to serve. We have other priorities. Our time is devoted to something else. In such situations, we can sense the prompting of God’s Spirit reminding us that it’s an opportunity to show God’s grace. Sometimes, we want to put it off. But the thought keeps nagging in our mind that we just needed to obey.

There are others who don’t feel burdened to serve in any way. They find joy in serving other people, because they knew that serving others is serving God. But being imperfect people, we don’t always feel joyful about it. Thus, we need the working of the Holy Spirit to spur us on and fill us with joy whenever we serve God.

“Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.”

– Psalms 100:2 (WEB)

We are to serve God with gladness. In whatever way of serving God assigns to us or calls us to do, we need to do it with joy in our heart and spirit.

Let us pray for a servant heart. Let us pray for gladness of heart in serving God and serving people.

“And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

– Colossians 3:23-24 (WEB)