WILLING obedience is worth a great deal. Work done with a sweet smile because the little worker loves him or her for whom the work is done, and work done because it must be done, are as different as real and artificial flowers. “Your labor of love,” said the apostle to the Thessalonian Christians, and indeed no work we may do for God is worth much in His eyes unless it be a labor of love.
Our blessed Lord’s life was one of willing obedience. He came to earth to do God’s will. He labored for us because He loved us. The Son of the Father, Jesus our Lord, was the servant of God and the servant of man, and all His service was that of love.
See to it, that your hearts go with your hands in your obedience, “Not with eye service as men-pleasers,” as the Bible warns us.
Work is pleasant to us, whatever it may be, if our hearts are cheerful over it. It makes little difference what our hands and feet are busy about, so long as our hearts are at rest. The easiest way to be happy is to make others so. And as we are speaking to children, we should add that in your cheerful obedience will be found the best proof of your love.