Dear Ones,
Hope you wake up Emojiready to do some hidden actions today out of gratitude for what you have received. Today I plan to spend some time in the kitchen baking and then Women’s Bible study and this afternoon we are invited to friends for sharing and prayer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I love when deeds of kindness are done out of compassion of the heart and not for the purpose to be seen by the world and put on Facebook, but simply for the Lord. Just recently on May Day, I opened our apartment door with a bag in hand to be deposited in the garbage, and I was met with not just one but 3 May baskets full of candy, all of which had no name on them. Two of them I could figure out but the third one is still a bit of a mystery. They were in front of all the doors so even the newest residents felt special and cared for. Those who prepared the baskets didn’t do it to be recognized but did it in secret during the night.

I happened to read Delano Shefield from Fuller Seminary who writes about how our silent labor resonates. We don’t have to make a big deal in our work or deeds of kindness but let it speak in the silence, knowing the Lord sees. All that we do should be for the audience of One and that is the Lord. Delano gives the example of the suffering Christians in Thessalonica that received Paul’s message and lived it out in their lives. It was in a quiet way but spoke volumes to others. In I Thess 1:8 Paul says, “But in every place your faith in God has become known, so we have no need to speak about it.” Their faith was evident in what they did so there was no need to say anything. The Christians were doing their ordinary work in a quiet way and it spoke loudly to everyone around them. Paul had established this church on his second Missionary journey and now he was writing to encourage them. He commends them for their faith in action as they followed the teaching he gave them.

Even when our work is very hidden and no one else sees us, God does, and He is our audience! We can become the message just as the people in Thessalonica, as we live our lives for Him.

Challenge for today: Do something for someone else today in a hidden way and experience God’s applause.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy