Stirred By The Scriptures

There is a fascinating verse in Deuteronomy that speaks to the issue of joy.  Deuteronomy 28:47 says this - “Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore…”  God goes on to say they will serve their enemies.  The thing that jumped out at me was that serving God was tied to joy.  In fact serving God is a joy, a glad service. Somehow you and I receive joy from God as we serve him.  Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.  I tend to think that joy is produced in me by my efforts when maybe it is a gift from God that is a direct result of my willingness to serve him.  I don’t know that I have ever thought of it that way.