Mornings with Jesus - Guideposts - 30 Day SampleSample

When I was in elementary school, star charts and contests motivated me. One summer I read more books than any other kid in our town and my picture made it in the newspaper. In Girl Scouts, I got a certificate and a stuffed animal for all the boxes of cookies I sold. During Vacation Bible School, I won a board game for learning the books of the Bible.

It has been hard not to focus on rewards in my ministry. My attitude can change like the tide if I get a good review or a bad one. Sometimes I’m bummed if I’ve poured work into a project and others don’t notice as I think they should.

I don’t get a certificate or another trinket as I serve Jesus. An eternal inheritance is my reward. And Jesus, of course, doesn’t put a star on a chart for the things we do right. Instead, He is the one who will shine bright in our lives now, and for eternity. I need to remember that. I need to remember that He is the one I work for, and pleasing Him is enough.