For the Lord

 Ephesians 6:6 says:

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

 Paul is addressing servants (or workers) in this section of Ephesians 6:5–8. He’s teaching that how we work and who we work for reflects our relationship with Christ.

 In the Roman world, slaves often worked only when their masters watched them. Paul tells believers to rise above that — to serve faithfully out of a heart devoted to God.

Sometimes in my Christian life, I  have to ask myself, What is my true motive for serving God.

Is it because that's just what my family does.

Or because I want people to be impressed with me.

Or is it truly because I want to glorify God with my life.

Often I can become guilty of doing right for people. Only serving in church for people.

I must constantly be reminded of the fact that God is pleased when I do what he says for him.

Today, I'm not talking about the how of your service.

Although it is important to serve God under the standards he says to abide by.

Today, I'm not talking about the when of your service.

Although it is also important to serve God now.

Today, I'm talking about the why of your service.

Matthew 23:5 (KJV) — which talks specifically about the Pharisees:

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments."

Here is a people that had the wrong motive for serving God.

Whether it was their prayers or garments, they only did right to impress people which happens when pride takes root in the heart.

Pharisees were men-pleasers.

Genesis 39:9 — when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him:

“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

You will notice quickly that in the end of this verse he said he could not sin against God. 

He didn't say against Potiphar

Or against Egypt.

Or against his Family

No, he was able to overcome the temptation because he had the right motive and purpose/

how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

When you simply will determine in your heart that you will serve the Lord not for people, but for God, great things can be accomplished in your life.

The Pharisees strived to please and impress people and never did much that mattered.

But Joseph strived to please God and God did wonderful and mighty things in his life.

If you serve the Lord for eyeservice, these 3 things will happen.

1. You will lose the Lords Presence.

How come the Pharisees refused to believe Jesus was God despite he being right there with them?

Maybe it was due to the fact that they didn't know the Lord truly because they were too caught up in their pride to please men.

Genesis 39:21–23 

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy... and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”

The quality of your relationship with God will become better when we disregard pride and start striving to please God for him.

2. You will lose the Lords Peace

The Pharisees were always in anger or frustrated. You never find them in peace. In the Christians life, peace will never come if your always striving to please people . Because of the pressure and the feelings of pride will come and that wonderful peace of God will vanish.

3. You will lose the Lords Power

Joseph accomplished great thing because the power of the Lord was upon him. If you do right for people, Gods power will cease because you attempt to serve God in your Power and not his.

So today,

If you find yourself battling anxiety in the ministries your serving because you don't want to fail.

If you find yourself nervous because of  the pressure of performing in church.

If you find yourself struggling with pride.

Or if your struggling with simply only serving God for people.

Then maybe you should pray and tell God you are going to start serving him because you love him.

And from there start serving God,

In your Church,

In your Home,

In your youth group,

In your appearance, 

In the places you serve God.

With this phrase in mind.

FOR THE LORD