THERE IS JOY IN SERVING JESUS

I have been in the full-time Christian ministry for 35 years now. I joined Operation Mobilisation (OM) and sailed with the missionary ship, the "M/V Logos" in 1974. I was with OM for a year, visiting several Asian countries and spending six months in India (mainly in the State of Uttar Pradesh). Later, I spent three years in Bible College and the rest of my ministry has been with Grace B-P Church. I am now entering my 33rd year of ministry in Grace Church by the grace of God. I am always reminded by the Psalmist in Psalm 100 : 2 to "Serve the Lord with gladness". Serving the Lord must always be a joy. If I don't have the joy to do so, I should not be in the full-time Christian service. Another verse from Nehemiah has also been a blessing in my life of service. It is found in Nehemiah 8 : 10, "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength".

Serving the Lord with joy

I look forward to Sunday Service
Every Sunday is a joy for me to be in God's House to worship Him. I would rather be in the House of the Lord unless I am sick or circumstances prevent me from being in church. This should be the desire of every Christian who loves the Lord.

You would not mind getting up early and coming to church. You would not mind the travel, etc. Your heart's desire is to be in the House of the Lord as David longed to do so (Ps. 122 : 1). Coming to Church to worship the Lord should never be a burden. If it is, you need to do something about it. Perhaps your love for Jesus has grown cold.

I look forward to be with God's people.
We are told to "receive one another" (Roman 15: 7). Never be partial in your relationship with one another. If you have this attitude, "James" tells us that it is sinful. (James 2: 9). We must love one another too (John 13 : 34). The Church is filled with imperfect people and we need to love one another in spite of our imperfections.

When I have a speaking engagement in another Church on a Sunday morning, I will try to return to Church to be with you. I would also love to be in my Bible Class if I could be back on time.

There is joy in serving Jesus in anything we do in the ministry.
Jesus said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant… Enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt. 25: 14-30). Serving Jesus is the best thing we can do in this world. Whatever things we can do for the Lord, let us do it because we are serving Jesus and not man (Col. 3: 23-24). If we have to clean the Church, cut the grass or serve as an usher or be a pianist or a chair person, etc., let us do so wholeheartedly and joyfully (Eccl. 9: 10). This is the requirement for our service to Jesus.

God is looking for faithful servants who will serve Him joyfully. In fact, we must have joyful people serving the Lord in Grace Church always.

Do you remember this hymn:

"There is joy, joy
Joy in serving Jesus
Joy that throbs within my heart
Every moment, every hour
As I draw upon His power
There is joy, joy
Joy that never shall depart".

I hope that this is our experience in our daily walk and ministry.

Joy to see "old Gracians" serving God joyfully till this day.
When I mention "old Gracians", I am referring to people who have been with Grace Church since the day of her founding in 1976. I must mention Mrs Seah and her sister, Elsie Chan who have been serving the Lord behind the scene in preparing the holy communion biscuits and grape juice for the congregation every month. They have been doing that for almost 34 years! Mrs Seah is the one who bakes the biscuits at home and makes sure that they are fresh when we partake them.

Serving God joyfully can be infectious.
Such attitude always brings blessings to the Church. When you see people serving God joyfully, they thrill our hearts and encourage us to serve Him too. The Church is always blessed with such people who serve Him, without any complaints, and whose desire is to please the Lord.

I will never forget my time on the "M/V Logos" when an elderly English Christian brother served the Lord joyfully in any capacity on the ship. He was a wonderful example to all of us, younger men and women. He worked in the ship's engine room and on deck. If you know what the ship's engine is like, you will not want to be in that place. It is always hot, oil, smelly and stuffy. That brother's exemplary example of joy in serving Jesus brought much encouragement to everyone on board the ship.

Someone said that real joy as a Christian comes from this little formula: J. O. Y:

Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last.

Pastor