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Scripture for the day:  Deuteronomy 28:47,48 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart....you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord shall send against you.
Thought for the day:  Not exactly a scripture destined to become one of the all-time great encouragements, is it?  In fact, I can think of at least a hundred others I would use in times of stress or when my friends are facing some trial that would be much more uplifting.  But let's take a look at this within its context.  This warning takes place in the middle of God's admonition to the people concerning their new life in the Promised Land.  Earlier in the chapter He'd given them a list of blessings associated with obedience to His laws followed by an equally impressive list of consequences for disobedience.
 I like that about God; He never leaves us wondering, if we're willing to read the whole Book.  He spells out exactly what is expected of us and gives us the consequences of a right or a wrong decision right up front.  I can deal with that.  Perhaps I need life to be that way because I'm so simple myself; I tend to see things mostly in shades of black and white rather than infinite degrees of grey.  If it's wrong to steal now it's always wrong to steal.  If it's right to help my neighbor now, it'll be just as right a month from now.  There is no middle ground.
 I think God was using Moses to make the same point here about our service to God.  To serve Him with anything less than complete, heart-felt consecration is to serve Him not at all.  Our devotion to Him must be so complete that it includes even our emotions.  Have you ever taken on tasks for employers or friends and not put your whole heart into them?  You agree to do a favor for someone and later regret the inconvenience so, when the time comes to participate, you do it grudgingly and with little enthusiasm.  God says when it comes to our relationship with Him, half-hearted is the same as none at all.
 Jesus said, "You cannot serve two masters for you will end up hating the one and loving the other or loving the one and hating the first.  You can't serve God and money."  He also reminded us, in His dealings with Satan in Matthew 4, "Get behind me Satan, for it is written, 'you will serve the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.'" And then He died on a cruel Roman cross to provide the grace needed to effectively serve Him. Count me among the simple-minded if you must, but I can get as much joy out of cleaning the church or helping to paint the steps as I do from any other ministry in which I might be engaged.  It's as much fun to rake the lawn as it is to sit down to a magnificent dinner provided by the best cooks in the congregation!  I think it comes down to why we do what we do and how much of a reflection our actions are of our love for God.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whatever you do, whether eating or drinking, do it all to the glory of God."  We could insert in there the words work, play, prayer, Bible study, or watching television if we like.  Whatever we do is a reflection of our relationship with God so it ought to be done out of love for Him.
            George Bernard Shaw said, "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." 
 Don't be discouraged as you labor for the Lord, for as Nehemiah reminds us: "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice!" was the admonition Paul left with his readers. When we invest our whole hearts in the smallest of tasks to the glory of God, our reward in Heaven will be great.
Now go take on your world. -  Bill