“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht 

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

Ephesians 6:5-8… Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.  (NKJV)

Yesterday morning in our mens  Bible study, there was a testimony of praise by one of the men, for a local church one of our men goes to…that sent a whole team of men and women up to North Jersey to help the victims of the hurricane Sandy, which devastated hundreds of North Jersey, and Long Island homes…

When we as Christians get involved in serving our church, or any other community service to help those in need…God sees what we do for others, and will (or not) bless us for getting involved…  Since God knows the intent of our heart…God is only going to look fondly on what we do, if it is done out of love for others, which will bring glory to Him…

I wrote the other day, on the blessings that we as Christians would receive, if we got “plugged into” our church…by utilizing the Spiritual gift or gifts the Holy Spirit has given to all Christians…1 Corinthians 12:11…  These Spiritual gifts should be used to help build the church body, with Christ as the Head… When we are truly plugged into the church through service done with love for others, which is ultimately done to glorify the Lord in the building of His church…,I wrote that we will be lit up like a Christmas tree…

I used the words of Jesus Himself, for this idea of being lit up for God’s glory…Matthew 5:16… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  (NKJV)

Here is the link for my…“Get Plugged in” to your church, blog…  https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/gods-group-thoughts-for-1182013-get-plugged-in/

When people get involved in their church, and they are either not a Christian, or their motives are not done with a loving heart…I still believe they are appreciated by the church people, if not by God…  I draw this conclusion from what the Apostle Paul wrote, when he was speaking about people who were preaching Christ from selfish ambition, and not out of love for the Lord…

Philippians 1:15-20… Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ¹⁶ The former preach Christ from selfishambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.  (NKJV)

But, the Bible tells us, there will be no God given joy or blessings from above now…or rewards at the feet of Christ (when believers face the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ…1 Corinthians 3:13-15)…if their good works are not done for the love of Christ, with the right intentions of the heart…  All of our good works done for the wrong reason, will be burned up…

So by all means, if you’re a Christian…get “Plugged in” to your church, by utilizing the Spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given to you…  But don’t get involved in serving your church, if it is a burden…or if serving others is done begrudgingly…  Our motivation as a Christian, to get involved in our church…should be brought on by an urging from the Holy Spirit…  When we become part of a unified body of Christ…“joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share” (taken from Ephesians 4:15-16)…there will be growth in your church… God will bless His body of believers, which are united in love, with one mind…Philippians 2:1-2…

Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You Lord, for the grace and the love that You show Your children…in both the good times and the bad… Urge all of us Lord, to become part of a Bible believing and preaching church…  And then Lord…help your children to submit to Your will and Your ways…  Urge us to use the Spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given to us…  I pray for this unity of love, in a growing body of Christ, for all of Your children…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills