Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
-- Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Colossians:
"He did not say 'work for the Lord,' but 'as for the Lord.' The distinction matters. You do not abandon your earthly task -- you transform its meaning. The builder who lays a straight wall and the father who corrects a child are both serving, if their heart is aimed rightly."
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God:
"The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary things may be his -- but they are not his treasure. He has them; they do not have him."
Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians (c. 96 AD):
"Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to His Father, because it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world."
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ:
"First keep thyself in peace, and then shalt thou be the better able to be a peacemaker towards others. A peaceable and obedient man doth more good than a learned and proud man. He who is well-ordered and careful in all things shall find peace."
What work did you do today that you would not have done if no one was watching -- and would you still call it service?
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius (Letter 47):
"Live with your inferiors as you would have your superiors live with you. Do not make slaves do menial work that you yourself would find degrading. They are men, not machines. Whatever you ask of them, ask yourself first whether you would bear it."
St. Clair, MI -- Monday, July 6
High 80°F, low 62°F. Slight chance of showers before 9am, then partly sunny. Northeast wind 6-10 mph, gusts to 20 mph. Evening clears to mostly clear skies.