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Serving The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Ephesians 6:7-8 - Serving The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serving The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV)

Your Work

What attitude do you have toward your work? How wholeheartedly do you go about the work that you have been given? Do you do just enough to get by or do you give it your all and very best when you are at work? What attitudes do you have toward your boss and coworkers? Why are you asking me these questions? Is there something about these questions that you don’t like? No, that’s not it. I don’t have any problem answering your questions. What is it then? Wouldn’t talking about more spiritual matters make better use of our time? Do you think that your work isn’t a spiritual matter? I didn’t think so. I thought work was work and had little to do with spiritual matters. Now, I’m not so sure. Why is that? Your line of questioning has me thinking about the spiritual aspect of all the work that I have been given. That’s good. You need to think more deeply on this subject.

You can’t hide anything at work. Everyone at work is watching you. They are seeing how hard you work. They are watching your attitude toward your work, coworkers and boss. Nothing goes unnoticed. Would you like to be able to share your faith with your coworkers? Yes, I would love to share my faith with my coworkers. If you are lazy in your work or have a bad attitude toward your boss or coworkers, how much of an opportunity will you have to share your faith in me? None, I suppose. That’s right. Who would care what you have to say about anything if they had lost respect for you because of the poor quality of your work or the nature of your attitude? Do I do poor quality work? Do I have a bad attitude towards others at work? That’s not the point I’m making with you. What is your point? I want you to always monitor the quality of your work and the nature of your attitude. I get it. I will do that.

There are two other points that I want you to keep in your heart and on your mind at all times. What’s that? I am your boss. You may think that you are working for an earthly boss. That’s only partly true. All the work that you do in this life you will be doing for me. The quality of your work and the nature of your attitude will be a witness for me to others in the world. The only question is, “Will your witness be a good one or a bad one?” I want to be a good witness for you in all my work. I want do display to others a Christ-like attitude that will be attractive to them. That will be very good. What is your other point? You think your payday comes every two weeks. Yes, I do. That is also only partly true. I will reward you for whatever good you do in this life. Lord, I will remember that you are my boss and that I am working for you. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name through all the work you have given me to do for you.

Lord, at one time I thought I was working strictly for my earthly employer. Now, I know I am serving you in all the work you have given me to do in this life. Help my hard work and positive attitude to be a powerful witness for you in the world. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

If – Ephesians 6-7-8 – Serving The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Serve Wholeheartedly

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Servanthood - Ephesians 6:7-8 - Serve Wholeheartedly - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Servanthood – Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serve Wholeheartedly – Growing As Disciples

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV)

Your Work 

In the past I have not always had the best attitude about my work. Frequently I have moaned and groaned about my job. I have gone along to get along. I have done just a little more than enough to get by. I have dreaded each day of work and looked forward to when I would be off work. My heart has certainly not been fully in my work. My effort has been nothing that could be called anything like wholehearted. I have always known that I could do better. I have always thought that I could work harder and accomplish more.

Why haven’t you always worked hard and accomplished more? At times my attitude and perspective have been all wrong. I have thought that I was working at a job to please an employer. So, I would do just enough to satisfy my boss. Who is your employer and your boss? That is a very important question. The answer to that question has changed my entire attitude and perspective about my work. How so? I have come to realize that I am not working for an earthly employer and boss. I am working for you. You see my effort. You see all that I have accomplished. You know how hard I have worked. You know if my effort has been half-hearted. Yes, I do. One day I want to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. I will never hear that if my work is half-hearted. No, you will not. But, you are now giving yourself fully to the work that I have set before you. Yes, I am. That pleases me. 

I am glad that you want to serve me with all your heart. As you give yourself fully to your work you will be a bright and shining witness for me in the world. There is something important that I want you to know. What’s that? You are a very hard worker. I have seen all your hard work. You stick to a job and don’t give up. You persevere and keep on going. You are tenacious in your efforts. That brings me to a concern that I have for you. What’s that? You can work too hard. You can be too focused. You can burn yourself out physically, emotionally and spiritually. I don’t want you to be always working. There is a time to rest and relax. There is a time to be renewed, refreshed and revived. You cannot keep on serving me with all your heart if you don’t continually take steps be renewed, refreshed and revived. There is a time to leave your work and come to me. Come rest and relax in my presence. Let me give you new strength to serve me. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, I have allowed myself to become depleted. I’m worn out physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is no wonder why I have not been joyfully serving you. Help me to have new zeal, meaning, purpose and wholehearted attitude in the work I do for you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Servanthood – Ephesians 6-7-8 – Serve Wholeheartedly – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com