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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 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 NIV).
Each and every day there is work to be done. We are task masters, or at least it seems we strive to be. Do we base our level of success on the completion and conquering of our to-do lists, or perhaps quite the contrary, feeling inadequate or failing in not doing so? What is our motive for accomplishing daily tasks? Most would probably say gratitude — the gratitude from a boss, spouse, teacher, coach, or maybe even self. Are we believing and resting in the promise that in this day, and all the days to come, God wills and works in us for His good pleasure?
The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of serving God with sincerity and devotion. In the Old Testament, Joshua’s exhortation to the Israelites is a perfect example of this call: "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). This declaration highlights the necessity of a deliberate and conscious choice to serve God amidst competing desires.
We should work without sinning — and do so without arrogance, greed, condescension, or superiority — just a few of the many human factors and challenges that keep us from serving God and serving Him well. The Apostle Paul candidly acknowledges this struggle. "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing" (Rom. 7:19). We must rely on God’s grace and strength to overcome our weaknesses, allowing the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the challenges of serving God, providing us guidance, strength, and comfort, enabling us to fulfill our God-glorifying and pleasing tasks.
Whether we are serving through the ordinary rhythms of daily life as an employee, parent, student, or volunteer, we all have an opportunity to honor God with our lives, bringing the eternal hope of Jesus in every interaction. Are we actively loving and serving with diligent, willing, and generous hearts? Whatever it is that we do, we must do it with a heart for Jesus and like Jesus, knowing there is fresh grace from God for every moment. He is at work in our willing and our doing every time we attempt to will and do. May our endurance come from knowing He is always there to work with and for us in every moment of the tasks we enter.
Let us strive to work, talk, do, and serve out of love, mercy, and grace — because God poured out His special favor on us, and not without results. May we work harder than anyone else, knowing that it is not us but God who is working through us by His grace (1 Cor. 15:10).
The power we need in serving for the next five minutes, five hours, five days, or for years is the future grace of the omnipotent Christ who will always be there for us — ready to will, ready to work — for His good pleasure.
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