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Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
Our Christian religion is a religion of holy joy. "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy," God's messenger said at the birth of the Savior. Since then holy joy in their Savior is the dominant note in the life of Christ's people. Even in their darkest night of affliction they can sing with the Psalmist: "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" And this their holy joy finds expression in their daily conduct and communicates its blessed light to their surroundings.
Morbid and morose Christians, who are never satisfied with their lot, who can only complain of God's providences with them, who never have a kind smile or cheerful word for their surroundings or habitually grumble when asked to help their needy fellow men or to give of their means for the support of Christ's kingdom - such sour-tempered Christians have great need to repent and to learn the blessed truth that "...the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17). Sinful self-love lies at the root of their sour temper.
But where the joy of God's Holy Spirit rules in the heart, there you cannot do otherwise than serve your merciful God and Savior with gladness all the days of your life; there you will thank and praise Him for having made you, a perishing sinner, a sheep of His pasture and for feeding you with the living bread of His saving grace and leading you beside the still waters of His help and comfort. Gladly do you serve Him by serving your fellow men in their several wants and troubles; and you never regret that you have to do so much for His kingdom; you only regret that you cannot do more. The Lord, whose mercy has made us to be His people, help us to spend each day in His glad service and to live in His presence with joyful hymns of praise.
Of His deliverance I will boast
Till all that are distrest
From my example comfort take
And charm their griefs to rest.
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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