My Mission in the Marketplace Part 1: "Work is Good" (A 5-day Devotional)
Day 1: The Sacred Nature of Work
Reading: Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:15
Devotional: As we begin this week, let's reflect on God's original design for work. In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, God gave Adam and Eve the task of tending to His creation. This shows us that work is not a punishment, but a divine calling. God Himself worked for six days in creating the world, and then invited humanity to participate in the ongoing process of creation and cultivation.
Consider your own work today. How might you view it differently if you saw it as a continuation of God's creative work? Whether you're a teacher shaping young minds, a chef creating nourishing meals, or an office worker managing crucial information, your work matters to God. It's not just a means to earn money, but a way to partner with God in caring for His world.
Take a moment to pray, asking God to help you see your work through His eyes. How can you approach your tasks today with a sense of divine purpose and creativity?
Day 2: Serving Others Through Our Work
Reading: Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 5:14-16
Devotional: Today's readings remind us that our work is not just about personal gain, but about serving others and glorifying God. When we work "as for the Lord," we infuse our daily tasks with eternal significance.
Think about the ways your work serves others. A doctor heals, a bus driver provides safe transportation, a parent nurtures the next generation. Even in tasks that might seem mundane, we have the opportunity to be "light" in the world, reflecting God's love and care for His creation.
Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan theologian who was mentioned in Sunday’s sermon, emphasized that God made us not just for ourselves, but for the good of our fellow creatures and for His kingdom. How might this perspective change the way you approach your work today?
Reflect on one specific way you can serve others through your work this week. Ask God to help you see opportunities to be His hands and feet in your workplace or daily responsibilities.
Day 3: Finding Joy in Our Labor
Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, Psalm 90:17
Devotional: The Bible tells us that there is joy to be found in our work. Just as God delighted in His creation, declaring it "very good," we too can find satisfaction and pleasure in our labors.
However, we often lose sight of this joy amidst the challenges and frustrations of work in a fallen world. The "thorns and thistles" mentioned in Genesis 3 are all too real in our daily experiences. Yet, even in difficulty, we can choose to see our work as a gift from God.
Today, try to identify moments of joy in your work. Perhaps it's the satisfaction of solving a problem, the camaraderie of working with others, or simply the ability to use your God-given skills. Thank God for these moments, and ask Him to help you cultivate a spirit of gratitude and joy in your daily tasks.
Consider keeping a "joy journal" this week, noting down moments where you experience delight or satisfaction in your work. How might this practice shift your perspective on your daily responsibilities?
Day 4: Overcoming Workplace Challenges
Reading: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5
Devotional: Work in a fallen world often involves difficulties, frustrations, and conflicts. Today's readings remind us that these challenges can actually be opportunities for growth and character development.
Reflect on a current challenge you're facing in your work. It might be a difficult coworker, a seemingly impossible task, or the monotony of routine. How might God be using this situation to develop your patience, perseverance, or other spiritual qualities?
Remember Jacob in the sermon, who faced unfair treatment from his employer Laban. Despite these challenges, Jacob continued to work diligently and eventually prospered. How can you maintain integrity and a godly attitude in the face of your own workplace difficulties?
Pray for God's wisdom and strength to navigate your challenges. Ask Him to help you see these difficulties as opportunities for spiritual growth and witness.
Day 5: Work as Worship
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17
Devotional: As we conclude this week's reflections, let's consider how our work can be an act of worship. The Bible teaches us that whatever we do, we can do it for the glory of God.
This doesn't mean we need to be constantly evangelizing or doing explicitly "spiritual" activities. Rather, it means approaching our work—whatever it may be—with an attitude of reverence and service to God.
Think about your specific role and responsibilities. How can you do these things "as unto the Lord"? It might mean striving for excellence in your tasks, treating others with kindness and respect, or maintaining integrity in difficult situations.
Today, try to approach your work as an act of worship. Offer each task to God as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). How does this change your attitude and approach to your daily responsibilities?
As you go through your day, periodically pause to remember that you are working for an audience of One. Let this awareness infuse your work with new meaning and purpose.
Reading: Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:15
Devotional: As we begin this week, let's reflect on God's original design for work. In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, God gave Adam and Eve the task of tending to His creation. This shows us that work is not a punishment, but a divine calling. God Himself worked for six days in creating the world, and then invited humanity to participate in the ongoing process of creation and cultivation.
Consider your own work today. How might you view it differently if you saw it as a continuation of God's creative work? Whether you're a teacher shaping young minds, a chef creating nourishing meals, or an office worker managing crucial information, your work matters to God. It's not just a means to earn money, but a way to partner with God in caring for His world.
Take a moment to pray, asking God to help you see your work through His eyes. How can you approach your tasks today with a sense of divine purpose and creativity?
Day 2: Serving Others Through Our Work
Reading: Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 5:14-16
Devotional: Today's readings remind us that our work is not just about personal gain, but about serving others and glorifying God. When we work "as for the Lord," we infuse our daily tasks with eternal significance.
Think about the ways your work serves others. A doctor heals, a bus driver provides safe transportation, a parent nurtures the next generation. Even in tasks that might seem mundane, we have the opportunity to be "light" in the world, reflecting God's love and care for His creation.
Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan theologian who was mentioned in Sunday’s sermon, emphasized that God made us not just for ourselves, but for the good of our fellow creatures and for His kingdom. How might this perspective change the way you approach your work today?
Reflect on one specific way you can serve others through your work this week. Ask God to help you see opportunities to be His hands and feet in your workplace or daily responsibilities.
Day 3: Finding Joy in Our Labor
Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, Psalm 90:17
Devotional: The Bible tells us that there is joy to be found in our work. Just as God delighted in His creation, declaring it "very good," we too can find satisfaction and pleasure in our labors.
However, we often lose sight of this joy amidst the challenges and frustrations of work in a fallen world. The "thorns and thistles" mentioned in Genesis 3 are all too real in our daily experiences. Yet, even in difficulty, we can choose to see our work as a gift from God.
Today, try to identify moments of joy in your work. Perhaps it's the satisfaction of solving a problem, the camaraderie of working with others, or simply the ability to use your God-given skills. Thank God for these moments, and ask Him to help you cultivate a spirit of gratitude and joy in your daily tasks.
Consider keeping a "joy journal" this week, noting down moments where you experience delight or satisfaction in your work. How might this practice shift your perspective on your daily responsibilities?
Day 4: Overcoming Workplace Challenges
Reading: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5
Devotional: Work in a fallen world often involves difficulties, frustrations, and conflicts. Today's readings remind us that these challenges can actually be opportunities for growth and character development.
Reflect on a current challenge you're facing in your work. It might be a difficult coworker, a seemingly impossible task, or the monotony of routine. How might God be using this situation to develop your patience, perseverance, or other spiritual qualities?
Remember Jacob in the sermon, who faced unfair treatment from his employer Laban. Despite these challenges, Jacob continued to work diligently and eventually prospered. How can you maintain integrity and a godly attitude in the face of your own workplace difficulties?
Pray for God's wisdom and strength to navigate your challenges. Ask Him to help you see these difficulties as opportunities for spiritual growth and witness.
Day 5: Work as Worship
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17
Devotional: As we conclude this week's reflections, let's consider how our work can be an act of worship. The Bible teaches us that whatever we do, we can do it for the glory of God.
This doesn't mean we need to be constantly evangelizing or doing explicitly "spiritual" activities. Rather, it means approaching our work—whatever it may be—with an attitude of reverence and service to God.
Think about your specific role and responsibilities. How can you do these things "as unto the Lord"? It might mean striving for excellence in your tasks, treating others with kindness and respect, or maintaining integrity in difficult situations.
Today, try to approach your work as an act of worship. Offer each task to God as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). How does this change your attitude and approach to your daily responsibilities?
As you go through your day, periodically pause to remember that you are working for an audience of One. Let this awareness infuse your work with new meaning and purpose.