"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." ~ Psalm 100:1-5

Serve the Lord with Gladness

This passage is known as A Psalm of Thanksgiving, and the author invites their readers to join in this festive song of praise. It's a call to "all the earth," which is all nations beyond Israel's borders. As Charles Spurgeon says in his Bible commentary:

"Our happy God should be worshipped by a happy people; a cheerful spirit is in keeping with his nature, his acts, and the gratitude which we should cherish for his mercies.” 

This idea of serving the Lord with gladness is key here. As believers, this is a fundamental element of our faith. If we aren't serving the Lord with gladness, then what kind of testament are we sharing with the watching world? Worshiping our Lord is a joyous affair—one that should capture the attention of others and bring them in.

Why? Because Jesus Himself is a joyous being. We should reflect His character and personhood as much as possible. We believe Jesus' deep joy and reverence for life should be focused on more these days. If you're having a hard time finding that joy, pray to the source and ask that He may give you that same gift. 

Consider this verse from 2 Corinthians 9:6, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Cheerfulness, hopefulness, optimism...these should be key identifiers of our faith.

Our Creator, Our Shepherd

Next, we're given some context as to why we should praise Him—because He is created us and is continually watching over us, like a shepherd watches over his flock.  It's a beautiful thing to be created by God, breathed into existence.

This quote from Scottish poet and theologian George MacDonald really says it all:

"To have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest and most precious thing in all thinking." 

We can rejoice knowing our God crafted us with intention and happiness. This sets the mission for our lives, too—to serve and obey Him, the one who created us. He is worthy of all of our praise , and not just once in a while, but every single day. We are called to celebrate His workmanship and creativity through our acts of service.

Our God is good and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. This is the great message of hope we have for you this Monday, and we hope it brings a smile to your face and a spring to your step. This very God who created the heavens and the earth is accessible to you know, but not only that, but He is calling out to you and wants you to rejoice in His goodness.

Dear Lord, thank you for this reminder of all the reasons we have to rejoice in your goodness. God, would you work a miracle in our lives and make us people of deep joy and hopefulness? Despite all the darkness in our world, would you work in my heart, that I would mimic the joy and service of Jesus Himself. I pray you would go before me this week and guide me through all the twists and turns. Prepare my heart for what I am to encounter, and lead me in your love, always. Amen.

You Are Known

You have a reason to smile today, LiF sister! Let this be your reminder to look up and thank God for everything He has done for you. Also, we invite you to check out our selection of Christian t-shirts and accessories! They feature inspiring (and cute!) designs that allow you to share the love of Jesus without even saying a word.