02
May '25
Serving with Joy
02
May '25
Introduction: Does it make you happy when you “Serve” the Lord? It should. If it does not, then perhaps you need to check up! According to the Psalmist, God’s people should SERVE the Lord with gratitude. What should be included with SERVING our wonderful Lord?
1. Praise! (Psalm 100:1) – “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.”
The words “joyful noise” are the word רוּעַ (rua, or roo-ah), which means to shout, or to cry out. It can mean to make a loud noise, or to sound an alarm. In other words, what is in the heart of the believer has to come out and be expressed verbally through praise because of who God is. Are you praising the Lord?
2. Joy! (Psalm 100:2) – “Serve the LORD with gladness.”
The word “serve” is עָבַד (abad): which means to work, serve, or to labor. It can also mean worship. What does this include? Does it mean just going to church? Sitting? Soaking? And souring? Of course not! Instead, it has to do with being available to be at the Holy Spirit’s disposal. Are you there? Can you be counted on to “work”? Labor? Serve?
3. Worship and Reverence! (Psalm 100:3) – “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Do you see the progression? First, we must “know” that HE is GOD! Then that leads to understanding that we are not self-made men and women. Figuratively, we are His sheep in His pasture. As sheep, we are to obey the Great Shepherd’s bidding. How are you doing? Can you hear the Shepherd calling you?
4. Thanksgiving! (Psalm 100:4) – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
THANKSGIVING is THANKSLIVING!
5. Adoration! (Psalm 100:5) – “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Has Jesus been GOOD to you? If so, have you been GOOD to Him?
Conclusion: If we have the right motives, focus, and attitude about our relationship with Jesus Christ, then we will experience JOY while SERVING our Lord. Do you have JOY in the Lord?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese