The Joy of Faith Life

Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. Deuteronomy 28:47-48

It is difficult to read the last half of chapter 28 because of the gruesome and heartbreaking plight of God’s people. And yet this chapter is only given for contrast. If the people follow God’s ways the curses will not come about as described. There is a temptation to think that to avoid bad things we need to obey God. There is something wrong with that as well. Obedience comes from the joy of knowing and trusting God in his love. The passage above refers to our serving God “joyfully and gladly.” Serving him is not a burden; obedience is not an inconvenience. We are blessed to know his love and to obey his commands. May you know that joy today.