Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Another perspective on the idea of being “all in” for and with the Lord Jesus is that whatever we are doing whether it seems like boring and mundane work or very exciting and enjoyable work, it is all being done “to the Lord”. Sometimes what we are doing can be doing a job that no one is noticing or thanking you for such as being a server in a restaurant or in a home, or a cashier in a store. Sometimes, it is an unpaid job such as being a parent or the one person others seem to want to discuss their problems with. In fact, sometimes, our roles put us in the way of people who take their frustrations out on us. But what if we kept our eyes heavenward and reminded ourselves that we are doing all our work as to the Lord, that we are serving Jesus Christ with everyone we serve in our daily lives? If it was Jesus standing in front of us, would we not serve with joyful hearts and smiling faces no matter what the task?
In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus shares how this truth shows up at the final judgement. “35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
The other perspective is that there are those who are being pursued by the Lord who are in our paths, watching us. We are His chosen representatives here on earth, walking in the benefits, the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places as Ephesians 1:3 reminds us. How we handle conflicts, offenses, trials in our lives are seen by others. When we are walking in dependence, abiding in our vine Jesus, there is a difference in everything we do and how we respond. And it is noticeable. Sometimes, our role in someone coming to Christ has been nothing we have said, but everything we did as they watched.
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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