JOY IN SERVING

           













It’s 20 degrees and snowing today!

Have you noticed how it can be 20 degrees with
snow everywhere cold as all get out but if the sun
begins to shine, the snow begins to melt?  Amazing!

How can it melt at 20 degrees? The warmth of the light penetrates.

Sometimes in our churches we have people who seem to be living at 20 degrees! No radiance in
their faces. No joy evident.

Last week at practice the Praise Team talked about the faces they look out at on Sunday morning.

To be sure there are some whose faces shine in their worship. However, they often see scowls and frowns, bored and listless faces and people not singing but looking around, (seemingly critically) at the other people.

One on the Praise Team said she was very discouraged and didn’t know if she would continue because some of the others on the Team were not giving their best or even halfway participating.

At a Potluck dinner a woman washing dishes said that was the last time she would wash dishes because no one else bothered to help.

We must remember that if we’re doing/serving to please other people or to rack up points, we’re doing/serving for the wrong reason. If we do and serve for the glory of God it doesn’t matter what anyone else does.

So - discouragement, critical spirits and weariness. Does the Bible speak to this?

The apostle Paul said in Gal 6:9,  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

And Jesus said, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love…. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit…This is my command: love each other. 

John 15:9, 11-12, 16-17

John Gill says in his Exposition of the Entire Bible:

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue. The Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions add, "in you"; or among you, as a church..., and as Christ hath loved us;  when it is genuine, it is active and laborious; and shows itself in praying with and for one another; in bearing one another's burdens; in forbearing and forgiving one another; in admonishing one another in love; in building up each other in the most holy faith and in stirring up one another; this is an evidence of regeneration; it is the bond of perfectness, …the comfort and joy of Gospel ministers, and our own peace and edification: and this should continue; for the love of God and Christ continues; One of the Jewish prayers is to this purpose; "he that dwells in this house, let him plant among you  "brotherhood and love", (or brotherly love,) peace and friendship.''  

I pray that the Light of the "Son" will penetrate and melt our hearts and give radiance to our faces.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13