Psalm 134:1-2
“Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.”
Many of us serve in the church just as the servants mentioned here did. We serve as small group leaders, nursery workers, choir members, and more. Sometimes we serve in these positions for so long that they become an obligation, something we do to cross off the “service” box on our Christian to-do list. Instead of an act of worship, they become an act of show because our hearts and motives have become impure.
This psalm speaks to that. The servants mentioned here are the Levites and priests who were watchmen over the temple. It must have been monotonous work to stand guard over the temple through the night, but the psalmist still urges them to praise.
This psalm shows us that our service is an opportunity to worship the Lord! It is not an act of our calendar, but an act of our heart. It is a display of gratitude for all that God has done for us, not just something to fill our schedule.
Serving in the church and in everyday life can be hard. It's not always easy or glamorous, but it is always a way to bring glory to God. If you are feeling burnt out, like your service is an act of obligation and not praise, ask God to refresh your spirit. Take time to dwell on his love so that you are reminded of why you serve him in the first place. From that place, you will be able to throw your heart into everything you do, letting your service be an act of praise pleasing to the Father.
God,
Thank you for your love and for the example of perfect service in Jesus. Help me to serve as he did, using it as a way to praise you. Purify my heart so that the service that flows from it is as pure as the love you pour onto me.
Amen