Day 3

Scripture to Read: Matthew 6:1–2

Doing good works for our Lord and not for ourselves or others is something we must work through every day. There are many times we have the right intent, for we know we want to serve our Lord well. We may end up doing an amazing job and honoring our Lord well but then someone comes and tells us how well we’ve done. We want to make sure we do not rob our Lord of the glory that is due Him. When people compliment us, we can thank them for their kind and gracious words and gently say something like this, “I’m so thankful our Lord Jesus Christ chooses to use me as He does to serve Him for His glory.” We never want to make a person feel bad for their kind words because God is also using them to be a blessing back to us. We also do not want to have false humility but to genuinely say how thankful we are for God’s handiwork through us. We must choose to live as God led Paul to say in Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” Being a bond-servant of our Lord reminds us that all of our service is for Him and His glory and not ours. So, we’re never to seek man’s approval or recognition but only to please our Lord and King in all we do and say.

Challenge & Application

· Why is it important to be able to receive a compliment well without letting it puff us up? · How do we honor our Lord and not rob someone of the blessing they’ve given us through their kind words?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Deeds of righteousness, good works, or practicing righteousness are what we, as Christians, should do every day of our lives. God has called us to do “good works,” but they are to be done to bring honor and glory to our Lord God Almighty and not ourselves. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be no...

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Day 2

In Matthew 6:1, Jesus also said that when we seek glory from men and to be rewarded by them, we forfeit our reward from God the Father in heaven. Jesus is not talking about being saved or lost but about accomplishing what God has called us to do for His kingdom and glory. One day, every Christian will stand before the judgment seat of God, an...

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Day 3

Doing good works for our Lord and not for ourselves or others is something we must work through every day. There are many times we have the right intent, for we know we want to serve our Lord well. We may end up doing an amazing job and honoring our Lord well but then someone comes and tells us how well we’ve done. We want to make sure we do ...

Read

Day 4

One of the ways we serve our Lord is by helping the poor in our communities. But even in helping the poor, Jesus said in Matthew 6:2, “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in ful...

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Day 5

Jesus does want us to serve Him by serving others—He just does not want us to do it in a way that dishonors our Heavenly Father. Jesus said in Matthew 6:3–4, “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret wil...

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Day 6

When we give, we must always remember that God knows the intent of our hearts. God says in Jeremiah 17:10, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.” God also reminds us in Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things...

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Day 7

We know our Lord has called us to give to the needy but to be sure it’s not done for selfish reasons. When we serve, we must always remember Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” No matter what God has called us to do, we must do it with an attitu...

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