Three times in Deuteronomy 12, God tells His people to “rejoice before the LORD” (vv. 7, 12, 18). That is striking. The chapter is filled with commands about sacrifices, offerings, worship, and the sanctuary—yet God repeatedly connects worship with joy.

God never intended worship to be mere religious duty. Israel was to come into His presence, bring what He had given them, eat together, celebrate His goodness, and rejoice in Him. Their joy was not ultimately in the food, the feast, or the fellowship. It was “before the LORD.”

And this points us to Christ. We do not come to God trying to earn His favor. Through Christ, we have already been reconciled to God and welcomed into His presence. The gospel turns worship from an attempt to gain God’s acceptance into a joyful response to the acceptance Christ has already secured for us.

So today, don’t merely perform worship. Rejoice in the God you worship. He has given you every good gift, and in Christ He has given you the greatest gift of all—Himself.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, free me from cold and joyless worship. Help me see Your grace more clearly, treasure You more deeply, and rejoice that through You I am welcomed into the presence of God. Amen.