Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

– Colossians 3:23-24

In the above passage, Paul is talking to wives, husbands, children, fathers, and slaves. Is preparing a meal done with enthusiasm, “as working for the Lord”? Does mowing the lawn feel like a service to the Lord? Are you really putting your heart into training your teenaged son how to drive a car? Do you really dive into your work and give a full eight hours of work for eight hours of pay – cheerfully?

No matter what you do, you are really doing it for the Lord. After all, we are set to gain a great inheritance – not because we cheer-fully do our work – but just because God is God, and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

And since that is the case, how can we NOT serve with enthusiasm and gratitude? You know when I feel most grateful? When I am rubbing lotion on my husband’s dry feet. Why? Because every time I do that, a vision of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet comes into my mind, and I feel very close to the Lord. It is no longer Philip’s feet I am tending, but Jesus’ feet, the very feet that were nailed to a cross because He loved me so much He could not do otherwise. Doesn’t that give us reason to serve the Lord with enthusiasm?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for opportunities to work heartily at whatever job you have placed in our path. May we always do it as unto you

Daily Reading: Ephesians 6

– Contributed by Karen Seutter Parham