Tuesday, September 19

Obey with enthusiasm

Scripture: Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:5–8 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching—as people-pleasers—but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, 8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.

Observation

Paul gave instructions to slaves and masters (in v. 9) which was unheard of his day. He introduced mutuality and reciprocity into each of the relationships he addressed: husband and wife, parents and children, masters and slaves. Here is the gospel subverting accepted social structures and norms.

Notice that Paul reminded them they were “slaves of Christ,” as was Paul and every other Christian. And as such, they and we are to do “the will of God from the heart…with enthusiasm” for we are serving the Lord Jesus, not just people. Therefore we give our best whether anyone else sees it or not because we know God sees and we’re serving Him. We obey with enthusiasm!

Application

I love the idea that whatever our role or task, even if we were assigned and had nothing to say, we do it wholeheartedly for the Lord. We give our best whether anyone is watching or not. 

The top of the Statue of Liberty is finished with as much detail and care as the rest of the statue, even though no one but birds ever see it. It would have been tempting to let that go, but the artist gave his best even to the parts no one would see. 

We serve Jesus in the same way—giving our best “as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart” whether anyone is watching or not. 

In Malachi 1, God took Israel to task for offering Him blemished lambs—the lambs that wouldn’t bring a good price at the market. But, they reasoned, it was good enough for God. It was an insult to God who always expects and deserves our best. 

 

Prayer: Lord, I love You and I want to give my best to every task and person You send my way. 

More: Isaiah 37-38, Psalm 109, Matthew 1