Recently the thoughts swirling around in my brain have centered around how I do the things of life. What is my heart attitude? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.”
I confess there are things I do that I consider mundane, just doing my duty, with a “dragging my feet” attitude. But what a difference those duties seem to be when they’re done with a happy heart, as to the Lord. I feel like I would do anything Jesus wants me to do and do it willingly and happily. So when I can work at an unglamorous or a seemingly insignificant chore as if I’m doing it for Jesus, how much easier and more pleasant that job is.
The same attitude needs to be taken when dealing with difficult people. I need to see Jesus in them and deal with them as if I were dealing with Jesus – with patience, love, kindness, gentleness and joy. The fact is that Jesus loves that person as much as He loves me. I have idiosyncrasies as much as that annoying person, probably more! It’s amazing how much a change in perspective can alter my heart attitude toward a person or activity.
This morning I read a verse I don’t know that I ever remember seeing before. John 12:26 recorded Jesus as telling his disciples, “My Father will honor the one who serves me.” Often, serving Jesus means serving others. After all, He has made those others in His image and He lives in them if they’re Christians. And if they’re not believers, then aren’t we also serving Jesus by the way we treat those unbelievers with the hope that they see Jesus in us?
I don’t want to live my life just going through the motions, but to live it wholeheartedly. Of course, I can’t do this in my own strength, but Jesus lives in me and shines through the cracks of this poor broken vessel.