Daily Devotion: Serve The Lord With Gladness by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Psalm 100 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing."
- Psalm 100:2 KJV

Delight in divine service is a sign of acceptance with God. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving Him at all; they bring the form of homage—but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace His throne; He is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have His servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve Him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks.

That obedience which is not voluntary—is disobedience, for the Lord looks at the heart, and if He sees that we serve Him from force, and not because we love Him—He will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true service. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man is forced to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, "It is sweet for one's country to die," proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism.

Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord, we are strong. Joy acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service—what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there is not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing, "Make me to walk in Your commands—it is a delightful road." Reader, let us put this question—do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery—that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.

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