"....knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:24)
"Whatever you do, put your whole heart and soul into it, as into work done for God, and not merely for men-- knowing that your real reward, a heavenly one, will come from God, since you are actually employed by Christ...." (J.B. Phillips). The NLT says, "....the Master you are serving is Christ." Now the context is an admonition to slaves in their conduct towards there owners, but the words are true for all of us, in all generations, for all time, whether "Christian workers," homemakers, entrepreneurs, office or factory workers, whatevers.
A main concern of mine over my life time as a pastor/missionary is that I never become "issue" oriented, advocate of some private doctrinal emphasis, or setting and seeking my own agenda. To put it another way, I never want to "preach" what Paul called, "another gospel." The best medicine against such a disease is, "for you serve the Lord Christ." Our text can keep a person from always having his "finger in the wind," always checking to see which way the "spiritual" or cultural winds are blowing. "....for you serve the Lord Christ," will continually enable you and me to live the abiding-in-Christ life, no matter in church meetings or activity, or the office, or the marketplace, or..............
If one 's motivation is primarily to serve man, no matter where that may be, it is from man only he can expect a reward. If in every aspect of my life I am motivate by, "for you serve the Lord Christ," then it is from Jesus I, "will receive the reward of the inheritance." Furthermore, when I, "serve the Lord Christ," it is then, and only then, that I truly serve anyone, anywhere.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I renew and affirm today my original surrender to you, that I want to, "serve the Lord Christ." Amen.
"Whatever you do, put your whole heart and soul into it, as into work done for God, and not merely for men-- knowing that your real reward, a heavenly one, will come from God, since you are actually employed by Christ...." (J.B. Phillips). The NLT says, "....the Master you are serving is Christ." Now the context is an admonition to slaves in their conduct towards there owners, but the words are true for all of us, in all generations, for all time, whether "Christian workers," homemakers, entrepreneurs, office or factory workers, whatevers.
A main concern of mine over my life time as a pastor/missionary is that I never become "issue" oriented, advocate of some private doctrinal emphasis, or setting and seeking my own agenda. To put it another way, I never want to "preach" what Paul called, "another gospel." The best medicine against such a disease is, "for you serve the Lord Christ." Our text can keep a person from always having his "finger in the wind," always checking to see which way the "spiritual" or cultural winds are blowing. "....for you serve the Lord Christ," will continually enable you and me to live the abiding-in-Christ life, no matter in church meetings or activity, or the office, or the marketplace, or..............
If one 's motivation is primarily to serve man, no matter where that may be, it is from man only he can expect a reward. If in every aspect of my life I am motivate by, "for you serve the Lord Christ," then it is from Jesus I, "will receive the reward of the inheritance." Furthermore, when I, "serve the Lord Christ," it is then, and only then, that I truly serve anyone, anywhere.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I renew and affirm today my original surrender to you, that I want to, "serve the Lord Christ." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
