BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

1 Peter 4: 8 – 11



11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Sorta puts the pressure on. Don't it?
I don't know about you but to me, the verse above says, “good enough ain't good enough.”
Huh?
Suppose we are at work, and it's getting late. We have just one more job to do. We're cleaning up the workplace and we can go home as soon as it's done. Trying to cut time and corners, we lift the corner of the rug up ans sweep the dirt under it, put the rug back into place and go home. After all, nobody was going to know. Nobody will ever see the short cut we took.
Now ask yourself, “How does taking this short cut give praise and glory to God?”
Good enough ain't good enough.
Nobody will know except God.
Nobody will see except God.
It seems to me that once again the Bible is telling us to be who we say we are. To act as a Christian should act. It's been said before, “It's a tough job.” “But somebody has to do it.”
That somebody is us. And, no matter how good we are at deception, there will bee some people who will know it, and think us to be hypocrites, and not listen to what we have to say about God.

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

That says it even more clearly, faithfully administer God's grace in it's various forms.
Gulp!
Time to take another brick out of the wall that I built up, another time that I have to get out of the old La-Z-Boy, and leave the “Comfort zone.” Once again the word of God has exposed my black heart and left it bare for all to see.
Even though the lesson is tough and doing the job is hard, it is worth doing things the right way.
When we are genuine in whatever it is we do, people will be attracted to it, listen to what we have to say about God, and a seed will be planted.
And glory will be given to God.