1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so thankful to 3 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 2: working for the Lord. We will return after a brief 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 2: message from our sponsor, Work for the Lord written by 6 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: Vivian Bricker, read by Rochelle ALBERTI Bible reading. Therefore, my 7 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move. 8 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: You. 9 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 10 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 2: because you know that your labor in the Lord is 11 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: not in vain Firse Corinthians, fifteen fifty eight. Like most people, 12 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 2: I have had many different jobs. Some of these jobs 13 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: I really enjoyed, but others not so much. However, in 14 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: every job I have tried to do my best. For example, 15 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 2: a few years ago, I worked at an inn. It 16 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 2: was extremely difficult since I struggled with contamination type OCD 17 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: obsessive compulsive disorder. The responsibility i'm an assistant innkeeper means 18 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: cleaning anything and everything, changing bed sheets, washing bed sheets, 19 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: cleaning bathrooms, washing floors, dusting in any other housework that 20 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: needs to be done. As someone with OCD, this was 21 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: incredibly stressful. However, by the grace of God, I lasted 22 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: the entire summer. I tried my best every day, and 23 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: I know that I served the Lord through my work. 24 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: Someone might say, no, you are working for your boss. 25 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: While this is true, I was also working for Jesus. 26 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: In everything we do. We need to work as though 27 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: we are working for the Lord Colosius three twenty three 28 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: through twenty four. We are serving Jesus in any job 29 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: we put our hands to. This is why we need 30 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: to work at every task with our whole heart. Rather 31 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 2: than becoming razy. We need to glorify God in our work. 32 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: Maybe you're at a job right now that is similar 33 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: to when I worked at the inn. You don't like 34 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 2: it and you can't wait to get off each day. 35 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: If this is true, know that you won't be at 36 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: this job forever. For the time being, continue to do 37 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: your best and strive to serve Jesus through your work, 38 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,839 Speaker 2: even if your boss is not kind or the job 39 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 2: is taxing. Try your best to show Jesus's love to 40 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 2: everyone around you. Jesus himself took on the nature of 41 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: a servant Philippians too five through eight. We need to 42 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: follow his example, but also taking on the nature of 43 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: a servant, we should not view any job as inferior. 44 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: Sometimes we have to take a job because we have 45 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: no other choice. God does not call us to be 46 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: idle or unproductive in our lives. Instead, he wants us 47 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: to work and serve here through our dedication to doing 48 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: what is right. Many people have a distorted view of work. 49 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 2: They think work is a bad thing. This is not true. 50 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: Work is a blessing from God. Working and being able 51 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: to provide for ourselves is a good thing. We never 52 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: need to view work in a negative light because it 53 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: can help us grow, build a strong work ethic, and 54 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: produce endurance. Through our work, we can become more dependent 55 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: on God. Intersecting faith in life, the apostle Paul tells us, Therefore, 56 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing love you. 57 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 58 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: because you know that your labor in the Lord is 59 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: not in vain First Corinthians, fifteen fifty eight. As Paul 60 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 2: says in this passage, we need to give ourselves fully 61 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,239 Speaker 2: to the work of the Lord, as our hard work 62 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: is not in vain. Working for the Lord will bring 63 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: him glory and point others to him. Many people think 64 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: the work of the Lord only consists of pastors, Sunday 65 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 2: school teachers, or missionaries. But this is not true. The 66 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: work of the Lord can be anything as long as 67 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: we are serving Jesus through our work. Therefore, even regular 68 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: jobs such as working at a hotel, a library, or 69 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: a department store, can all bring glory to God if 70 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 2: we are faithfully serving Him. As Christ followers, we must 71 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: ask ourselves whether or not we will serve God in 72 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: our work. If we become lazy and unproductive in our work, 73 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: we are not working to the glory of the Lord. 74 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 2: If we find ourselves in this situation, we need to 75 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: bring our hearts back to Jesus. Every job deserves our 76 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: full attention and productivity. Loving God and serving Him will 77 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: help us to truly work for Him and not give 78 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: up when times are hard. Continue to work for Him 79 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: because your labor is not in vain. Jesus sees all 80 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: the challenges you are going through, even when days are tough. 81 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: Choose to live for Him, love Him, and serve Him 82 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: faithfully in your work and in your life. What are 83 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: some ways you can glorify God in your work? Lest 84 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: a few here further reading First Corinthians ten thirty one, 85 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: First Thessalonians four ten through twelve, Cootions three seventeen. 86 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: The Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and 87 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, please 88 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: take a second to rate and review this podcast in 89 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like you 90 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: can find the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, 91 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.