Gratitude Series Episode 20

Hello, my walking friend! I’m grateful you are taking the time to walk with me during this podcast! I am praying that God will richly bless you as you work to take care of your body and, at the same time, draw closer to him. Way to go!

Today is the 20th episode in the gratitude series. In each podcast during this series we will take some time to focus on thanking Jesus for something specific and we will have two different verses to contemplate. Today we will be thanking Jesus for work.

Our first verse to meditate on is Colossians 3:23-24 :

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.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t often feel like thanking Jesus for work. Since we are walking friends, I can share this with you, but sometimes I feel like work is a curse. There was a time when I read the book of Genesis and I thought that maybe work was a curse given as a consequence for the sin of Adam and Eve. Certainly, God said that because of their sin, life would be harder for Adam and Eve. After they sinned against God, they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, a place overflowing with all that they needed, all provided by God. That’s when things got hard.

God uses words like cursed, pain, thorns, thistles, by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. So certainly the concept of work took a turn for the worse! But work itself is not a curse. God set the example for work when he created our world and everything in it – including us!

God created, created, and created – and then said it was good! But sometimes our work doesn’t fill us with joy, right? Sometimes we aren’t creating anything, let alone anything good. Instead we might be cleaning up big messes that others have created – am I right? Especially if you are a parent of young children! Some of us are blessed to be employed doing tasks that do bring us joy, that feel perfectly suited for us, and that we would do whether we were paid or not. But even people in this fortunate situation have had seasons in life where work didn’t, or doesn’t feel joyful.

Maybe we need to take another look at the word “work”. We tend to equate work with something we are getting paid to do. Yes, God said that to eat we need to work. So we try to contribute to our world in a meaningful way, as we are able, so that we can eat the fruits of our labor (did you catch that? Eat the fruits of our labor? With all this talk of work, I thought you might need a chuckle or a groan…whatever…)

But Jesus doesn’t see work as only that activity that we trade for money. All that we can do could be considered work – work for him. He created us to work, to create, to have purpose here on earth. He created us in his image and he set these examples of work, creation, and purpose for us.

Jesus knows we may not always have a heavenly attitude toward work, work of any kind, and I am so grateful that he gave us these beautiful words to meditate on – whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though working for the Lord. I love this verse because it is something I need to remind myself of often when I start to get a bad attitude about my t0-do list. What about you? And our second verse reiterates the point, but adds our need to also give thanks. Just listen to Colossians 3:17:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Much of how we view work is a choice – and if we choose to look at whatever we have to do today as though we are doing it for Jesus, it changes things, doesn’t it? Today we are doing earthly work, but one day we will be doing heavenly work. What a crazy, amazing thing to think about… and be thankful for!

So let’s take a little time now to think about these two verses on the work and doing all that we do for our savior, Jesus.

You are now at the halfway point of your walk. If you need to be back in 10 minutes, this would be the time to turn around and head back.

The second half of our walk is an opportunity for reflection, meditation, and prayer. For many of us, myself included, this might feel challenging. But the spiritual rewards of developing this discipline are great and so is the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. So let’s start with some questions to guide you followed by a short interlude for reflection.

What is your view of work? Is it only a means to pay the bills or keep your house clean or keep your children safe? If you have a negative view of work, is there a way you can change your perspective? Consider that now.

Have you ever considered that your ability to work and create are some characteristics that make you an image bearer of Jesus? How does this make you feel? Think of that now.

Take time to think of all the things in your life, past and present, that you would define as work and thank Jesus now for giving you the ability and opportunity to serve him through that work.

Now let’s listen again to today’s verses:

Colossians 3:23-24 :

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 3:17:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Is there anything else you would like to talk to Jesus about? Remember, he is right there with you, walking with you, and he is eager for you to share all that is on your heart and mind with him. Take some time to talk to and to thank Jesus now.

Now I am going to pray for us:

Dear Jesus,
Forgive me when I only think of work as a curse. Help me remember that work is given to me as a blessing. When I don’t feel that way, please help me look at my to-do list as though it were yours. Renew in me a sense of purpose around the work that I do. Jesus, if you are calling me to do something different with my life, then give me the courage I need to take that step. Thank you for the opportunity to work. Thank you for giving me the ability to work. Thank you for giving me the proper attitude toward work – to do all that I do as though I am doing it for you. And, thank you, Jesus, for walking with me always. Amen.

Well, you did it! Another 10 minutes of walking and another opportunity to build the spiritual discipline of prayer and quiet time with the Lord. I’m grateful for you and I’m grateful you took the time to walk with me today. But more importantly, you walked with Jesus, the one who blesses the work of our hands and hearts!

For more Walk with Jesus resources, including the Walk with Jesus 21 day scripture, devotional, and guided prayer journal book for walkers, go to WalkwithJesusDevotional.com. The November edition focuses on gratitude and is a part of this podcast series. You will find the URL for this book and other resources in the podcast show notes.

I hope we can walk together again tomorrow, friend. In our next episode we will be thanking Jesus for rest. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.