Hi Brian! It was SO good to see everyone this weekend! Your girls are so fun and so loving! The word for this week is an interesting one! It is "eyeservice" and is found in two places in the New Testament: Ephesians 6:6 and Colossians 3:22. I am including the verses before and after these. Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. KJV Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. KJV
This is the Greek word "ophthalmodouleia". Strong's Concordance says: sight-labor that needs watching. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: service performed (only) under the master's eye. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: diligently performed when he (the master) is looking, but neglected in his absence. Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon also adds this: to serve with a view to impressing others; to serve in order to call attention to oneself. I haven't known MANY people who operate this way, but over the years I have worked with SOME! This type of person is rarely a real team player! They are more concerned with drawing attention to themselves, many times at the expense of other people. They APPEAR to be working and holding up their end of things, but usually leave others to pick up the slack. The thing that they don't realize is that there are rewards for faithfulness, diligence and integrity that will not come any other way. Rewards like the promise that ANY good thing that we do will be reciprocated by the LORD Himself! Rewards like favor and success in whatever you do, both in work and career, and in hobbies, pastimes, interests, endeavors, family and friends! I think it is pretty obvious that there is no "eyeservice" going on with you or Kristine, and your girls will reap the benefits of such great examples! I LOVE reading the Word and finding that I have already been doing things God's way! Here is Hillsong with "Crowns":
