“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24

I remember when WWJD bracelets were all the rage. Four simple but powerful letters challenged me to ask myself, “What Would Jesus Do?” I’ll be honest: those four letters prompted me to adjust my attitude on more occasions than I care to admit.

I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years and I love what I do; however, caring for patients and their family members can be a tremendous challenge. It’s stressful, the work is hard, and there are times I feel underappreciated. Some days my patience wears thin. Being compassionate is hard and my ability to show mercy and grace weakens. If I’m not careful, my emotions can negatively affect my attitude.

Perhaps you know the feeling.

I don’t have that little yellow bracelet anymore, but I do have the Apostle Paul’s words in Colossians 3:23-24. Even though caring for others can be hard and situations challenge me, God’s desire is that I serve humbly and with all my heart. Paul says that I should display a Christ-like attitude in everything I do, and to serve others as if I were serving Christ.

So now, when caring for a patient gets difficult, instead of asking “What would Jesus do?” I ask myself, “What would I do if I were serving Jesus?”

Lord, thank you for the opportunities you give us to serve others. No matter what our career or job is, remind us of the importance of serving from our heart. During difficult times, help us to display Christ’s character in all we do, knowing that our service leads to an inheritance from you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The next time serving someone seems difficult, ask yourself: “What if it was Jesus who I was serving?” Then, respond accordingly!

By Marsha Pope
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Wisdom and Knowledge of God

•  How Big is God?

•  Salvation Explained

The post Attitude Adjustment appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” Psalm 22:22

There is beauty and power that comes with sharing the story of how you came to Christ.

But there was a time in my life when I was afraid to share my testimony.

Sharing the intimate details of my former sins and brokenness had, in my experience, left me vulnerable to rejection, condemnation, and fear. I was fearful that people would judge me based on my past instead of seeing me as the woman I am today.

That is, until I realized the beauty and power that comes with sharing my story.

A testimony is a dual-purposed opportunity every believer has been given to honor the Lord by:

• Bearing witness to others about the great work He has done in your life, and;
• Sharing the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, with those who don’t know him.

The entire Bible is filled with examples of those who shared their testimony. In the Old Testament, King David often cried out to the Lord, asking for deliverance. And in return, he continually promised to tell others of God’s goodness and salvation.

In the New Testament, Paul spoke of his conversion and how God had called him from a life of sin into a life of serving Christ. As a result of Paul’s testimony, thousands of people gave their lives to Christ.

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Never be afraid or ashamed to share your story with those who need to hear it because you’ve got good news! Your story is a wonderful display of Jesus’ miracle of giving new life and redemption.

Lord, we thank and praise you for what you have done in our lives. Because of Jesus, we never have to be ashamed of our past and we are free to tell of your goodness and the power of salvation. Lord, give us the strength, courage, and grace to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who need you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have you ever written out your testimony? If not, take time to reflect on how you came to know Christ. If you’ve already done that, ask God to highlight people in your life that need to hear the gospel through your story!

By Marsha Pope
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  PRINT this Gospel Presentation (How to Know God Personally) and share it with your non-Christian

•   30 Day Guide for New Believers

•   Now that I am a Christian, What’s Next? – Printable PDF file

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The post You’ve Got Good News appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

Wouldn’t it be easy if we only had to forgive things we found forgivable? But what often happens is that we have to push past the hurt and pain we’ve suffered to forgive someone.

We live in a world that romanticizes love to the point where we forget that in relationships, there will be times when our trust will be violated. We will inevitably be betrayed to some extent. Our hearts will be broken by those who profess love for us.

Love in its truest, purest state is best exemplified when we can look past what we might consider unforgivable offenses and grace others with the same forgiveness that God extends to us. In our most unforgivable state, Christ, in the greatest love story ever told, taught us that love has absolutely nothing to do with warm fuzzies and red hearts.

God’s great love for us is what drove him to Calvary where he proved how much he loved us, taking on all of our sins and shortcomings and allowing himself to be nailed to a cross. Christ forgives us because he loves us. As his representatives, we are called to do as he did, and forgive anyone who has offended us. Anyone and everyone.

Lord, as we choose to walk in love each day, help us forgive people just as you have done for us. Amen.

If you are holding a grudge or a grievance against someone, take the time to talk the situation over with God, inviting him to change your heart and give you the desire to forgive them. Then ask him to show you how he wants you to demonstrate forgiveness to that person in a practical way. This is one of the best ways to start a new year right!

By Marsha Pope
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

• Forgiveness – Yourself and  Others
•  Going Deeper with God

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post God’s Love is Not Heart-Shaped appeared first on Thoughts About God.