Serve the Lord with Gladness!

We helped serve about 500 teens their supper last night at an event called Flame On. Hosted by CMA youth ministry, it is a yearly youth gathering for New Year’s week-end. We filled the plates as the youth and leaders came through the line. This year our oldest granddaughter and her friend are among the attendees. While self-serve might seem easier and require less volunteers, the opportunity to hand the plates full of warm food to each person is a real treat. There’s just something wonderful about serving others.


We live in a self-serve world. Everybody wants to get whatever they can for themselves. It’s all about “Me”, so it’s important to not get in the way of self. Self wants to be crowned, adored, worshiped and enthroned. Self wants to be first, have the best and loudly proclaim when it’s not getting its way. Self will push you over, run you down, eat your lunch and break in line. As times get harder and people have more troubles with jobs, homes, finances, etc. Self will become more and more supreme.

Yet the Lord speaks to His people with another set of do’s and don’ts – being a servant of the Lord is the finest path to greatness. It’s amazing that this greatness has nothing to do with titles or bank accounts or prestige or abilities. It’s simply becoming more like Jesus. It’s the servanthood of dirty dishes and runny noses and ironing clothes. It’s the attitude of giving to others, helping the helpless, returning blessings for cursings and more. It’s having someone’s back, giving more than receiving, waiting on the Lord. It is above all an attitude of the heart. Nothing something you can fabricate for gain but cultivate for Kingdom living.

Oh beloved, as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and you prepare for your busy, busy day, pause just moment and thank the Lord for servants in your life! There are many unsung heroes who are always there without notice, always serving without being seen, always helping others with no mention of their name. And beloved, God says to you this morning that when you serve Him with your whole heart, He will give you opportunities to serve the Kingdom of God in ways that you’ve never imagined. He says that He knows your heart and He’s building within you a servant’s attitude of love. Because He loves you He watches over you as certain things in your life have given you hurt, pain or discomfort. Yes, He knows that you may have been run over, ruled out, misunderstood or kicked to the curb, but He has your back. The Greatest Servant who ever walked this Earth is making intercession for you daily! Oh how He loves you, oh how He watches over you. His Word is His bond and He promises that when man treats you as a less than person, He sees you as a more than servant of His, dedicated to Kingdom living and joyous servanthood. Rejoice, for your King is pleased with you and is waiting for you in Heaven with the royal robes and crown of royalty. For you are His servant, created in Christ Jesus for such a time as this!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

John 12:26 Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Philippians 2:5-7 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…

Matthew 20:26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.

Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. KJV