Making God smile

‘Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant? It is the one that his master has placed in charge of the other servants to give them their food at the proper time. How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home! Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property.’                    (verses 45-47)

Read Matthew 24:32-51

When I was young I discovered that few things gave my mother as much of a pleasant surprise as waking up to find that one of her kids had already set the table and made breakfast.

I find housework a chore.  I don’t mind a bit of a mess; I’d rather spend my time on ‘more important matters’.  But I sure notice the difference it makes when my wife, Emma, comes home from work to find me making dinner (hopefully nothing is burnt). Few things are more important to our marriage than the time I spend doing chores around the house. I get extra points if she doesn’t have to keep reminding me to do them.

As with Emma, nothing please Jesus more than when I serve him willingly. It doesn’t matter what the task is. He’s just as pleased that I washed the dishes this morning as he is with the time I’m spending writing this devotion. If Jesus comes back tomorrow, I would love to have him catch me taking out the garbage.

It’s not hard for you to put a smile of God’s face. Just put a smile on your face as you go about your daily chores, knowing that you are serving him in serving others.

My Lord, may the way I serve others today make you smile. Amen.

by Jorg Ernst in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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