Serving Together: Faithful When No One Is Watching
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of Building Together: “When Faith Goes to Work!” (WATCH HERE)
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Have you ever worked harder because someone was watching? Perhaps you cleaned up a room when you knew company was coming, hurried to finish a task when your supervisor walked by, or put extra effort into something because you knew someone would notice. We all appreciate recognition, and there is nothing wrong with being encouraged when someone thanks us for our work. But what happens when nobody is watching? Does our effort change when there is no one around to notice what we do?
In Ephesians 6:6, Paul warns against serving merely “to win their favor when their eye is on you.” He calls this eye service, the kind of work done primarily to impress someone. Paul was writing to enslaved people living under the authority of masters in the Roman Empire. Their circumstances were very different from those of most workers today, and their lack of freedom made their situation especially difficult. Yet Paul points them to a deeper motivation for their work. They are to serve sincerely, “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart” (Ephesians 6:6).
Paul is not suggesting that every task is pleasant or that every person in authority is fair. Rather, he reminds Christians that their ultimate Lord is Jesus. Human approval may come and go, but Christ sees our lives and knows our hearts. Paul encourages them to serve wholeheartedly, as though they were serving the Lord rather than people.
This changes how we approach the ordinary responsibilities of life. At work, we can act with honesty even when no supervisor is present. At home, we can take care of responsibilities without waiting to be asked or praised. At church, we can serve faithfully even when our efforts go unnoticed. These may seem like small things, but they are opportunities to love our neighbors through the everyday work God has placed before us.
Colossians 3:23–24 offers the same encouragement: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Our motivation is not to earn God’s love or prove that we deserve His favor. We already have His favor through Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has forgiven our sins and made us His own. Our faithful service is a response to His grace, not a payment for it.
There will be days when we grow tired, feel overlooked, or wonder whether our efforts matter. In those moments, remember that your value does not depend on how much people notice you. The Lord who gave His life for you sees even the quiet acts of faithfulness that others miss. Because Christ has served you with unfailing love, you are free to serve others with a sincere heart.
Reflect: Where am I tempted to put less effort into my responsibilities when nobody is watching? How could remembering that I ultimately serve Christ change the way I approach one ordinary task today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have worked only to gain the approval of others or neglected my responsibilities when no one was watching. Thank You for seeing me, loving me, and making me Your own through Jesus Christ. Give me a sincere heart and a willing spirit so that I may serve faithfully in every part of my life, trusting that my work is an opportunity to love my neighbor and honor You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Serving Together: When Service Becomes Selfish
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of Building Together: “When Faith Goes to Work!” (WATCH HERE)
Matthew 23:5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Serving others is a good thing. We help at church, work hard at our jobs, care for our families, and look for ways to meet the needs of those around us. But have you ever stopped to ask why you serve? Sometimes, even our good works can become a way of serving ourselves. We want others to notice our efforts, appreciate our contributions, or recognize our importance. What looks like service on the outside can hide a heart that is seeking something in return.
Jesus confronted this problem when He spoke about the religious leaders of His day. He described men who did their works to be seen by others. They loved places of honor, public recognition, and titles that made them appear important. Their outward actions might have looked religious, but their hearts were focused on themselves. They wanted the praise of people more than the approval of God.
We can fall into the same trap. We might volunteer at church but feel disappointed when someone else receives the credit. We may gladly help when our efforts are noticed but lose interest when nobody seems to care. We may even use a position of leadership to insist that everything be done our way. These attitudes reveal how easily sin twists our service into an opportunity to promote ourselves rather than love our neighbors.
Paul offers a different way in Philippians 2:3–4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.” This does not mean we should think poorly of the gifts God has given us or refuse opportunities to lead. Instead, it means using our gifts for the good of others rather than for our own glory. True service asks not, “What will I get out of this?” but, “How can I help?”
Yet simply trying harder to become humble will not solve our deepest problem. We need hearts renewed by the grace of God. The good news is that Jesus did not wait for us to become worthy of His love. He gave Himself freely, not to gain recognition, but to rescue us from sin and death. Through His death and resurrection, our selfishness is forgiven, and we are given a new life in Him.
Because Christ has loved and served us first, we are free to serve without demanding applause or repayment. We can rejoice when someone else succeeds, quietly meet a need, or accept a task that nobody else wants. Our service does not earn God’s favor. It flows from the favor we have already received in Christ.
As we continue building together as God’s people, may our service become less about being noticed and more about helping others see the love of Jesus.
Reflect: When am I most tempted to seek recognition or appreciation for the things I do? What is one way I can serve someone this week without expecting praise or anything in return?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have used my service to seek recognition, importance, or control. Thank You for loving me and saving me through Jesus, who gave Himself for me without seeking earthly praise. By Your Holy Spirit, renew my heart so that I may serve with humility, rejoice in the good of others, and use my gifts to build up Your people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Serving Together: Different Roles, One Lord
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of Building Together: “When Faith Goes to Work!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 6:5–9 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
God has placed us in different roles throughout our lives. Some lead, while others follow. Some work behind the scenes, while others stand in front of people. Some carry great responsibility, while others faithfully handle the small tasks that often go unnoticed. Our world tends to measure people by their position, influence, or accomplishments. But God’s Word reminds us that our earthly status does not determine our worth before Him.
In Ephesians 6:5–9, Paul addresses slaves and masters, people who occupied very different positions in Roman society. Paul does not pretend these circumstances are equal. Yet he directs both slaves and masters to remember that they ultimately serve the same Lord. He tells masters that they have a Master in heaven who shows no favoritism. No earthly position places anyone above God’s authority.
This truth also shapes how we understand our roles today. In the church, we have different roles and different areas of service. In our community and workplaces, we can have different positions and responsibilities. Yet, we do not need someone else’s position to live a meaningful life of faith. We can enjoy faith-filled service no matter our status or position.
Yet our sinful nature often tempts us to compare ourselves with others. We may become jealous of someone else’s influence or feel overlooked when our contributions go unnoticed. We might even believe that certain tasks are beneath us. When these attitudes arise, we need to repent and remember that our standing before God does not depend on our achievements. We all are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. We all are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
What freedom this gives us! We do not have to prove our worth through our position or earn God’s approval through our service. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are forgiven and made God’s own children. Because Christ has served us with His life, we are free to serve others with grateful hearts.
Today, wherever God has placed you, look for an opportunity to serve faithfully. Your role may seem ordinary, and your work may go unnoticed, but you belong to the same Lord who loves you and gave Himself for you.
Reflect: Where am I tempted to measure my worth by my position or compare my role with someone else’s? How can I use the responsibilities and gifts God has given me to bless someone today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for making me Your own through Jesus Christ. Forgive me when I compare myself with others or seek importance through my position. Help me recognize the gifts You have given me and use them faithfully to serve the people around me. Remind me that whatever my role, I belong to You and can serve with joy because Christ first served me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Living Together: What Happens Behind Closed Doors
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of Building Together: “Behind Closed Doors!” (WATCH HERE)
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
There is a side of every family that the outside world never sees. People see us at church, at work, at school, or in the community, but our families see us when we are tired, frustrated, disappointed, and under pressure. They see how we respond when we don’t get our way. They hear the words we use when we are angry. They see whether we forgive or hold a grudge.
What happens behind closed doors matters.
It matters because our homes are one of the primary places where our faith is lived out. It is easy to speak about love, patience, forgiveness, humility, and kindness at church. It is much harder to practice those things when someone we love has disappointed us for the third time, when the children aren’t listening, when the bills are piling up, or when we are simply exhausted.
Paul’s words in Colossians 3 remind us what Christlike living looks like in those ordinary moments. “…as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. .” Then he says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Notice where Paul begins: Our identity: “chosen…holy…dearly loved”
Our Christian behavior doesn’t create God’s love for us. God’s love creates our Christian behavior.
We don’t forgive so that God will forgive us. We forgive because, in Christ, God has already forgiven us. We don’t serve our families so that God will finally be pleased with us. We serve because Christ has already given Himself for us. We don’t love perfectly in order to become God’s children. We love because He has made us His children through Christ.
That is especially important in our homes.
There will be times when we fail. Husbands will fail their wives. Wives will fail their husbands. Parents will fail their children. Children will fail their parents. But a Christian home is not a home without sin. It is a home where sin is met with repentance and forgiveness.
Sometimes the most powerful witness we can give our children is not pretending that we are always right. It is allowing them to hear us say, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” It is allowing them to see that forgiveness is real because we have experienced it from Christ.
And what happens in our homes eventually affects the church.
We bring our attitudes, habits, relationships, and character with us when we gather as God’s people. If we learn to practice patience at home, we become more patient with our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we learn to forgive at home, we become more ready to forgive in the congregation. If we learn to serve at home, we become more willing to serve in the church.
Strong Christian homes don’t make a strong church because they are perfect. They strengthen the church because Christ is at work in them.
The church is a family of forgiven sinners, and our homes are smaller places where that same Gospel is lived out.
So this week, don’t underestimate the spiritual significance of ordinary life. The way you speak to your spouse matters. The way you respond to your children matters. The way you forgive matters. The way you pray matters.
Behind closed doors, we have opportunities every day to build something that lasts.
We follow God’s order.
We love with God’s heart.
We leave a legacy of faith.
And when we fail, we return again to the One who never fails us. Christ has loved His Church perfectly. He has given Himself for us. He has forgiven us. And His grace gives us the freedom to go home and try again.
Reflect: What do the people closest to you see in your life behind closed doors that you might not want others to see? What is one way you can let the forgiveness and love of Christ shape the atmosphere of your home this week?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me Your beloved child through Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the ways my selfishness, impatience, anger, and pride have affected the people closest to me. Fill my home with Your grace. Help me to speak with kindness, serve with humility, forgive as I have been forgiven, and love as Christ has loved me. When I fail, give me the courage to repent and ask for forgiveness. When others fail me, give me the grace to forgive. May what happens behind the doors of my home reflect the love of Christ and strengthen the family of Your Church. Amen.
Living Together: Building a Legacy of Faith
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of Building Together: “Behind Closed Doors!” (WATCH HERE)
Psalm 78: 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Every generation leaves something behind for the next. We pass along traditions, stories, habits, values, possessions, and memories. But there is something far more important than anything we can put in a will or leave in a bank account. We have the opportunity to leave a legacy of faith.
Psalm 78 describes one generation telling the next generation about the mighty works of God. The goal was not simply that children would know some Bible stories. The purpose was that they would “set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”
That is the heart of Christian parenting and Christian influence.
God gave Israel this same responsibility in Deuteronomy 6. His people were to keep His Word in their hearts and then talk about it with their children throughout everyday life. Notice how ordinary the settings are. When you sit in your house. When you walk along the way. When you lie down. When you rise.
Faith was not supposed to be confined to a classroom or a worship service. God’s Word was to become part of everyday life.
That is still true today.
Our children and grandchildren learn about faith not only from what we teach them but from what they see in us. They see how we respond when life doesn’t go our way. They hear how we speak when we are frustrated. They notice whether we pray when we are worried. They see whether we worship because Christ is important to us or merely because it is what we do.
They see whether we forgive.
They see whether we admit when we are wrong.
They see whether God’s Word actually shapes the decisions we make.
This doesn’t mean Christian parents have to be perfect. In fact, one of the most important things our children can see is what a Christian does when he or she isn’t perfect.
They can hear us say, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
They can see us return to God’s promises when we fail.
They can hear us say, “I don’t know what to do, but I know that God is faithful.”
They can learn that Christianity isn’t about pretending to have everything together. It is about knowing where to turn when we don’t.
And that is why the most important legacy we can leave isn’t simply a set of good morals. It is Christ.
We want the next generation to know that Jesus died for sinners. We want them to know that their sins are forgiven because of His cross. We want them to know that baptism is God’s promise, that His Word is trustworthy, and that His grace does not depend on their performance.
Parents have a tremendous responsibility in this. But the responsibility doesn’t belong only to parents. Grandparents, godparents, teachers, older brothers and sisters in Christ, and the entire congregation have opportunities to encourage the next generation.
We may not know what influence a simple conversation, prayer, Bible verse, or act of kindness will have years from now. But God does. He works through His Word, and He promises that His Word does not return empty.
So don’t underestimate the ordinary things.
Pray with your children.
Read God’s Word together.
Bring them to worship.
Tell them what Jesus has done for you.
Let them see you repent.
Let them see you forgive.
Tell them again and again that Jesus loves them and has made them His own.
The goal isn’t to create perfect children. The goal is to faithfully point them to a perfect Savior.
Reflect: What are you currently passing on to the next generation through your words, habits, and example? Who is one younger person you can intentionally encourage or invest in spiritually this week?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the generations of faithful people who have shared Your Word with me. Forgive me for the times I have failed to speak about You, live according to Your Word, or point others toward Christ. Help me to be faithful with the people You have placed in my life. Give parents wisdom and patience as they raise their children. Give grandparents, teachers, and all Your people opportunities to encourage the next generation. Above all, keep our children and grandchildren rooted in Your Word and secure in the promise of Christ. May our homes and our congregation faithfully proclaim the Gospel from one generation to the next. Amen.