Reading: Ephesians 6:5-9

Scripture

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 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. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Ephesians 6:5-9a (NIV)

Observations

My attitude toward serving is important. I can't claim to be serving God wholeheartedly unless I am serving others with that very same attitude of heart. Whether we're talking about employer or employee, family or friends, people in the community or people in the church, my attitude is to be one of devotion.

Devotion: Love, loyalty or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause.

Application

Serving wholeheartedly as if I were serving the Lord leaves no room for showing favouritism. It would be like saying, “Lord, I love you when I'm serving this person but not when I'm serving that person.” That's just not an option. Instead, every opportunity to serve is for me an opportunity to serve God. In fact, serving wholeheartedly those who I'd rather not serve is an opportunity to express my devotion to God all the more – my love, loyalty and enthusiasm for him and his purpose.

Prayer

Lord God, let your grace flow! As I serve others, let your grace flow to me and through me. In my own strength, I don't have what it takes, but your love is “wide and long and high and deep.” Please fill me with that love and help me to serve with love and devotion.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)