One of my life scriptures is Psalm 100:2.
It says, “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.”
One of the greatest things you can do at Church is turn up happy.
It doesn’t say serve the Lord with “sadness” or “madness,” but it says to turn up with, “gladness.”
I’ve learned you can become cheerful very fast.
It may have been a tough day but you can say, “God I’m going to come in happy – “Rejoicing.”
You can add your cheerfulness to other people’s cheerfulness, and add your faith to other people’s faith to create an increased atmosphere of faith.
It’s an incredible thing to witness, how just a few people together can create an atmosphere.
Jesus said, “where two or three gather in my name, there I am in the midst.”
Two or three can create an atmosphere of faith and joy.
Verse 1 starts with, “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!”
When you come to church let the worship and songs touch you.
You can even raise your hands in worship to the Lord, even when you are serving on a team.
Many people come to Church with all sorts of life problems.
As we joyfully serve the Lord, it will create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can move. people who are weighed down by life problems will come in and see that God is here, and be encouraged by God’s love.
In verse 3 it goes on to say, “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Whatever gift you have, that gift is from God.
Whether it’s singing, writing, setting up, organizing, people skills, speaking, or translating or one of the other hundred things that happen in Church. It helps to know that you are His.
I heard the other day from one of our best, and most wonderful young singers in the Church here in Tokyo, she was saying that although she’s quite a shy person, she knows she has a gift and so when she gets up to sing, she gives her gift to God.
I love that.
It’s not about us, and the way we feel.
It’s about saying God, you’ve given me a gift so I’m turning up joyful, happy, part of the team, and I’m gonna bring my gift and serve you today with my gift.
Go ahead, read the whole of Psalm 100.
It’s one of my life scriptures and I’m sure you will be blessed.
Come and worship the Lord with gladness and I believe your lives will keep going up and up.
God bless you. Rod.