Deuteronomy 28:47

Deuteronomy 28:47 ^ESV

Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,

 

God is serious!  His command is not merely that you serve Him, but that you are happy about it.

 

If you and I can look out over our abundance of things and not be glad about the One who gave you all these things, then you are acting sinfully.  Ouch!  All my bad attitudes are sinful; even (perhaps especially) the ones I feel most justified about at the time.

 

While no other human could command such a thing and enforce it (determining our attitude is the last freedom we have, and one which no one could take away from us even though we often give it away for less than nothing), God is God and He not only can command and enforce it, He does.  You cannot half-heartedly give God a great gift and expect Him to receive it with blessing from your hand.

 

Therefore, we must serve the Lord with gladness.  Begin with serving Him in those areas you already enjoy: do them with your whole heart.  Then ask God for the strength and grace to serve Him in areas that are more difficult for you.  He is not only the one Who requires joyfulness, but He also give it.

 

Praise You Father that You look into our hearts.

Praise You Son that You purified those hearts.

Praise You Spirit that You enable those hearts to serve joyfully.

 

Serving joyfully with you,

Pastor Greg