"Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men." Ephesians 6:7
We serve someone every moment of life... even if we choose not to serve at all. Whatever we choose to do or not do, ultimately serves one of two rulers... One Whom has supreme rule over all rulers, Jesus Christ... or the other, satan, whom has been temporarily loosed in the world and has access to anyone whom is NOT filled with The Holy Spirit! You may pretend not to serve anyone, when in truth, will serve the devil just fine! This may be hard for some to perceive. It is also true, that serving others without having been lead by God is serving the devil.
Many people are very busy doing religious busy-work because they have seen or heard it said we are to do "this and that" from God's Word... however, it also says in God's Word that, to follow the letter of the law and NOT the Spirit Of The Law is DEATH. Jesus said...
"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]." Mat 7:21-23
Jesus says He never knew them because their religion was NOT one of a personal, listening, waiting, trusting, relying, obedient relationship with Him. So this is why we do not serve to please men... although in pleasing Christ, yes... many around us may be pleased, but in pleasing the Lord, there will be some that are unpleasantly convicted of heart by what He is doing through us. Some may be angry that God is using us and not them. Some whom are controlled by darkness will be unpleasantly repulsed by the Holy presence of God in you. Only God knows the fruit, or result of what He has us to do. He alone knows what is good at the moment He wills it. There is much the bible says we are to do, and you cannot do them all at the same time... so the religious man decides for himself, what he is to do today. That is nothing more than arrogance and sin. Let's add the next verse to this same thought.
8. "Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free."
Remembering that "good" is only in doing what God leads us to do, we see here that He rewards us. You see... in trying to please man, we also seek the reward of man and those rewards will be eaten by moth, rust away, and burned by fire. In serving God we are rewarded by Him...
"Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal." Mat 6:19-20
Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 6:9 next time.
I love you.
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