#MidweekWorshipConnection | S1E2

Season 1 | Episode 2 | Psalm 100:2

Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 100:2, ESV

There are two parts to the command in the first sentence of Psalm 100 verse 2. The first part says to “serve the LORD”. It is a good and Biblical thing to serve the LORD.

I am convinced that God is not asking us to serve Him because He needs our service in any way whatsoever. He could accomplish anything He sets His mind to accomplish without any help from us —remember that this is the same God who spoke light into existence! 

So why would He command us to serve Him? I believe that He knows full well our service to Him will actually produce a deep sense of joy and belonging within us! We serve Him because He is worthy and because He has commanded us to serve Him, but in our serving Him we are the ones who benefit. In serving Him, we experience inexpressible, indescribable joy! Because of this, obeying the second part of the command should be quite natural for us. 

We are called to serve the LORD, yes. But the second part is as important as the first… we are called to do it with gladness.

When we remember Whom we are serving, and the fact that He is the very One Who gave us life, breath, and strength with which to serve Him, doing it with gladness is the appropriate response. 

We have all served in a capacity that we did not enjoy. Perhaps our boss was less than kind, or the job was less than inspiring (or both!). But when it comes to serving the LORD, we can have confidence that He is full of kindness, love and grace. No task is insignificant in His kingdom and in His plan.

With all of this in mind, how appropriate it is for us to come into the presence of the LORD with singing!

CS Lewis famously portrayed the God-type character, Aslan, as singing Narnia into creation. The prophet Zephaniah tells us that the LORD rejoices over us with singing. In a way, I believe the second verse of Psalm 100 is an invitation for us to join God in a song that He is already singing. It is truly the song that does not end. We are invited to come into His presence with singing.

Why not try this simple exercise this week? As you serve the LORD in the everyday tasks that He has for you this week, why not come into an awareness of His presence with singing.

Try it.

Test it.

Do it.

See for yourself whether or not this attitude of praise will lead you right into serving the LORD with gladness.