“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24)
When I first read this verse today, two kinds of “work” came to mind:
1) my job with an employer I’ve known for four years
2) a temporary volunteer position as summer Vacation Bible School teacher at my church
The apostle Paul said it doesn’t matter who my direct supervisor or the owner of the company is—I’m not working for them, I work for my Lord. And no matter how cute the little kids at church are, or how desperately the Sunday School teacher needs the summer off to take care of personal needs—I’m not volunteering only for their sake, I volunteer for the sake of the Lord who willingly gave up everything for me.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
It is only because of God’s grace that I can offer anything of value to this world. Knowing his grace can turn any kind of work into a labor of love, and make it totally worthwhile—even if I must shed my own blood, sweat, tears and pocketbook in the process!
Lord, because of your grace you’ve already given me infinitely more than I ever deserved. Help me maintain an attitude of grateful indebtedness to you. Keep me from sliding into a false mindset of scales and balances. As I work for my employer and for my church, may I put forth my best effort and always remember your Holy Spirit is with me. Thank you for your promises of an inheritance and a glorious future home with you. You make it all worthwhile. Amen.
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An encouragement, a simple prayer, or a pithy observation... I would appreciate hearing from you. May God richly bless your day! ~Joanna