The BIG Picture (Shorts)

 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; — Colossians 3:23  Ever feel like you’re just "going through the motions" at work? Let’s look at the spiritual context behind Colossians 3:23. The command to "do it heartily" comes from the Greek "ek psychēs" , meaning "out of the soul" . This implies that your actions should originate from the deepest part of your being, not just the physical effort of your hands. Scripture contrasts this with "eyeservice" —performance done only when the master is watching to win human approval. In contrast, "ek psychēs" is the work that continues with excellence even when the boss is absent. Why? Because a true Servant knows the Lord is always watching. Realize that you have been "bought with a price" and are now a bondservant to Christ. When you work "out of the soul," you transform every task—no matter how menial—into a voluntary act of worshi...

People often perform "good" deeds, but the motives behind these deeds may not always be noble. For example, some do "good" for praise, compensation, or self-improvement. However, they also commit many wrongs, like pride, lying, and harboring evil thoughts, —things that the LORD hates, Prov 6:16-19. Humans struggle to adhere even to God's 10 simple rules, but our religious practices urge adherence to sacraments, prayers, offerings, tithes, and festivals to please God and avoid damnation. Whether it's church laws, personal laws, or God's laws, our flesh is too weak to measure up, and religion can literally kill our soul, 2Cor 3:6. Paul, once a Pharisee who practiced the Law, admitted that his religion was "but dung" compared to Jesus Christ's righteousness, Phil 3:3-11. Living a perfect life is impossible, thus we must understand that our lives are NOT about our performance but about Jesus Christ living and working in us, as we walk in an int...