January 9

Morning

But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. — Jer 31:33 BSB

Christian! Here is all you could ever need. To be happy, you need something that satisfies you completely—and isn’t this promise enough? If you can pour this promise into your cup, you’ll say, like David, “My cup overflows! I have more than I could ever wish for!” When this is fulfilled, “I am your God,” do you not possess everything? Desire is as unquenchable as death, but He who fills all in all can satisfy it. Who can measure the depth of our desires? But the infinite riches of God can more than meet them. I ask you—are you not complete when God is yours? Do you need anything besides Him? Isn’t His all-sufficiency more than enough, even if everything else fails?

But perhaps you seek more than just quiet satisfaction—you long for overwhelming joy. Come then, soul, here is heavenly music in this promise: “I am your God!” Not all the melodies from the finest instruments or sweetest voices can compare to the beauty of this promise. Here is an ocean of bliss, endless and boundless—immerse your spirit in it. You could swim for an eternity and never find the shore, dive for ages and never reach the bottom.

“I will be their God!” If this doesn’t make your eyes shine and your heart beat with joy, then surely your soul is not in a healthy state.

But you want more than present joy—you long for hope. What more can you hope for than the fulfillment of this great promise, “I will be their God!” This is the crown jewel of all promises. Experiencing this promise creates a heaven on earth and will create a heaven above. Live in the light of your Lord, and let your soul be constantly filled with His love. Take full advantage of the rich blessings this promise provides. Live up to your privileges and rejoice with indescribable joy.

Evening

Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs. — Ps 100:2 BSB

Delight in serving God is a sure sign of acceptance with Him. Those who serve God with a heavy heart, because they find it burdensome, aren’t truly serving Him. They may bring the appearance of devotion, but their hearts aren’t in it. Our God does not need slaves to grace His throne. He is the Lord of love, and He wants His servants dressed in the garments of joy. God’s angels serve Him with songs, not with groans. A complaint or a sigh would be considered rebellion in their ranks.

Obedience that isn’t voluntary is disobedience because the Lord looks at the heart. If He sees that we serve Him out of obligation, rather than love, He will reject our offering. Service with joy is true heart-service, and therefore, true service. Take away the joy from a Christian’s service, and you remove the proof of their sincerity. If someone is forced into battle, they are no patriot. But the one who goes to battle with a joyful heart, singing, “It is sweet to die for one’s country,” proves their loyalty.

Joy is the strength that sustains us. In the joy of the Lord, we find our strength. Joy makes the hard tasks easy. It’s like oil to the wheels of a machine. Without oil, the axles get hot, and the machine breaks down. In the same way, if we don’t have holy joy to oil our service, our spirits will grow weary. The person who serves God cheerfully proves that obedience is their natural way of living. They can sing, “Make me walk in Your commands—it is a delightful path.” Reader, ask yourself this question: Do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let’s show the world, who thinks our faith is a form of slavery, that it is our delight and joy! Let our happiness demonstrate that we serve a good Master.