Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shauna: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. I think you know that Joni loves serving the Lord Jesus.

Joni Eareckson Tada: More specifically, I enjoy serving the Lord with gladness. It hasn't always been that way, but honestly, I get such satisfaction out of doing something that I know pleases God, something that helps others. Serving the Lord with gladness—did you know that is a command? In Psalm 100, God's Word says, "Serve the Lord with gladness and come before His presence with singing." That is one sentence: serve the Lord with gladness and with song.

That is something I enjoy doing, and I love it that people around me serve God in the same way. For instance, the girls who get me up in the morning. It is not the easiest routine, getting me ready to sit up in my wheelchair. It involves a bed bath, exercises, toileting routines, leg bag straps, corsets, getting me dressed, and so much more. My friends all know that when they help me, they are really serving God. I tell them that they are ministering to me, the least of the brethren. So often after I am up and we part company for the day, we will end with a song.

I do recall, though, when there was one woman who did not serve the Lord with gladness. To her, getting me up in the morning was her chance to unload problems. The minute she would arrive in my bedroom to help me, she saw it as an opportunity to tell me all her woes and everything that was going wrong. Nothing I said was able to cheer her up. She was mechanically helping me and sitting me up in my wheelchair, but her sullen spirit made the morning harder than most.

Finally, after about a couple of months, I had to tell this girl that this was not a good fit. It just wasn't working, her taking time to help me. Then I told her why. Being a quadriplegic makes it hard enough getting up in the morning without starting the day with problems and complaints. I feel badly about this, but she knew it was right. To serve the Lord with gladness—now there is a glorious occupation. Those who do not serve God with a glad heart cancel out all the benefits their service could have won them.

Charles Spurgeon puts it this way: "Those who serve God with a sad countenance because they do what is unpleasant to them are not serving Him at all. They bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace His throne. He is the Lord of the empire of love and would have His servants dressed in joy. The angels of God serve Him with songs, not with groans. A murmur or a sigh would be mutiny in their ranks.

That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looks at the heart. And if He sees that we serve Him from force and not because we love Him, He will reject our offer. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart service and therefore service that is true." Spurgeon has it right there. So let me ask you: do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let's show the people of the world who think our obedience to God is only slavery that serving Him is a delight for us. It is a joy, and let our gladness prove it—that we are serving a good and a glad Master.

Shauna: Oh friend, these are such good words from our dear Joni, who loves sharing hope through hardship. If you know someone who serves God cheerfully, then share this program with them, won't you? I just know it will be a great encouragement. You can find this program and so much more at joniradio.org. And one more thing: thank you for confirming just how wonderful God is by your happy attitude when you serve.