Christ Leads The Way

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Hi, everyone! I hope that you are well. Thank you once again for your continued show of love and support of my blog. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you!!!!

The 9-to-5 Grind vs. Genuine Devotion

How many of us actually want to work a job?? What was that in the back…crickets? No one, right? But if you do have a job in this economy, then congratulations.

Most of us want to be free to do the things we actually love and not feel obliged to a 9-to-5 or whatever 8-hour schedule is required every day. And God knows that. That’s why He doesn’t want us to do anything for Him out of a sense of duty, or like it’s a job – just a task that needs to be done.

Checking Boxes or Giving from the Heart?

Jesus said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). The Lord doesn’t want us to simply say and do things for Him because we feel we have to. Where is the genuineness in that?

Do you go to church services every Sunday because it’s a habit and you feel you just have to? Do you do it out of obligation, or from your heart because you actually want to?

The apostle Paul reminds us to give, “not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

I don’t think any one of us wants someone to do something for us because they feel it’s a simple task to check off a box. What really matters when people do something for you is not that they do it, but the purpose behind them doing it. Remember what Jesus said about the heart?

The Power of True Kindness

When my father passed away, three beautiful sisters in Christ reached out to me and were there for the funeral and the family, assisting in whatever way they could. They did a lot that day; I can’t even remember it all. But I do remember that it was done in love – because they love me and wanted to show support and kindness during one of the most challenging times in my life.

And thankfully, we serve a Savior who willingly gave His life for us – not because it was His job. Not because it was simply a task He had to complete. But Jesus died for you and for me because He loves us.

That’s the difference, friends. Love.

The Good Shepherd vs. The Hireling

Notice what Jesus said in John 10:11-15.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Someone who is just doing their job like the hireling Jesus mentioned doesn’t care about Christ’s sheep. But Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for us, not grudgingly and not out of obligation, but willingly.

What a beautiful Savior.

A Time for Heart Examination

It’s so important that we examine our hearts. Are you just going through the motions each week? Or is your heart truly set on doing the will of God? Are you giving to God and others because you care and because you want to? Or are you doing it because you feel you have to?

Let’s serve God and His people – not because we feel it’s a burden or a task – but let’s do it out of love.

May “the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

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