Strength for the Journey – Day 24
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Strength for the Journey
40 Scriptures to Shape Your Faith
Day 24 | Colossians 3:23
Strength for the Journey
40 Scriptures to Shape Your Faith
Day 24 | Colossians 3:23
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men."
(NASB)
Paul addresses workers here… and in the first century, many of those workers were SLAVES. Let that sink in. People in forced labor, with no freedom, no exit strategy, and no retirement plan. And Paul says: "do your work HEARTILY, as for the LORD rather than men."
If Paul can say that to slaves, how much more does it apply to those of us with jobs we (mostly) chose and bosses we (mostly) tolerate?
This verse ELEVATES an ordinary job into something significant. Cleaning, teaching, selling, parenting, studying, managing… none of it is too small or too secular. When we work as for the Lord, the mundane can become SACRED. Excellence replaces mediocrity and joy can take the place of resentment. Work is a fundamental good in God’s design for humanity, appearing explicitly or implicitly more than 800 times in Scripture.
Notice the phrase: "as for the LORD RATHER THAN MEN." That contrast matters. Men judge by appearances, overlook effort, and play favorites. But the LORD sees EVERYTHING… the extra mile, the unseen integrity, and the honest work no one notices.
Like most of you, I've been working since I was a kid… doing chores at home, working on my dad’s construction sites, and taking jobs in high school and college. I’ve also taught high school, served as a school principal, worked as a university professor and as a music minister, and pastored a church. Not every job felt meaningful at the time. But when I’m working for the Lord, EVERY task matters. Every job COUNTS.
Your job is your MISSION FIELD. Your tasks are your OFFERING. Your boss is secondary to the One who ultimately employs us all.
Remember who you're really working for… it can change everything.
Quote: "Work is not a punishment; it's a privilege to participate in God's creative and redemptive purposes."
— Timothy Keller
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me treat every task as worship to You. Replace my complaints with gratitude and mediocrity with my best. Amen.
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men."
(NASB)
Paul addresses workers here… and in the first century, many of those workers were SLAVES. Let that sink in. People in forced labor, with no freedom, no exit strategy, and no retirement plan. And Paul says: "do your work HEARTILY, as for the LORD rather than men."
If Paul can say that to slaves, how much more does it apply to those of us with jobs we (mostly) chose and bosses we (mostly) tolerate?
This verse ELEVATES an ordinary job into something significant. Cleaning, teaching, selling, parenting, studying, managing… none of it is too small or too secular. When we work as for the Lord, the mundane can become SACRED. Excellence replaces mediocrity and joy can take the place of resentment. Work is a fundamental good in God’s design for humanity, appearing explicitly or implicitly more than 800 times in Scripture.
Notice the phrase: "as for the LORD RATHER THAN MEN." That contrast matters. Men judge by appearances, overlook effort, and play favorites. But the LORD sees EVERYTHING… the extra mile, the unseen integrity, and the honest work no one notices.
Like most of you, I've been working since I was a kid… doing chores at home, working on my dad’s construction sites, and taking jobs in high school and college. I’ve also taught high school, served as a school principal, worked as a university professor and as a music minister, and pastored a church. Not every job felt meaningful at the time. But when I’m working for the Lord, EVERY task matters. Every job COUNTS.
Your job is your MISSION FIELD. Your tasks are your OFFERING. Your boss is secondary to the One who ultimately employs us all.
Remember who you're really working for… it can change everything.
Quote: "Work is not a punishment; it's a privilege to participate in God's creative and redemptive purposes."
— Timothy Keller
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me treat every task as worship to You. Replace my complaints with gratitude and mediocrity with my best. Amen.
Recent
Categories
Archive
2026
February
40 Days with Jesus - 0140 Days with Jesus - 0240 Days with Jesus - 0340 Days with Jesus - 0440 Days with Jesus - 0540 Days with Jesus - 0640 Days with Jesus - 0740 Days with Jesus - 0840 Days with Jesus - 0940 Days with Jesus - 1040 Days with Jesus - 1140 Days with Jesus - 1240 Days with Jesus - 1340 Days with Jesus - 1440 Days with Jesus - 1540 Days with Jesus - 1640 Days with Jesus - 1740 Days with Jesus - 1840 Days with Jesus - 1940 Days with Jesus - 20
March
40 Days with Jesus - 2140 Days with Jesus - 2240 Days with Jesus - 2340 Days with Jesus - 2440 Days with Jesus - 2540 Days with Jesus - 2640 Days with Jesus - 2740 Days with Jesus - 2840 Days with Jesus - 2940 Days with Jesus - 3040 Days with Jesus - 3140 Days with Jesus - 3240 Days with Jesus - 3340 Days with Jesus - 3440 Days with Jesus - 3540 Days with Jesus - 3640 Days with Jesus - 3740 Days with Jesus - 3840 Days with Jesus - 3940 Days with Jesus - 4040 Days in the Book of John - 0140 Days in the Book of John - 02
April
40 Days in the Book of John - 0340 Days in the Book of John - 0440 Days in the Book of John - 0540 Days in the Book of John - 0640 Days in the Book of John - 0740 Days in the Book of John - 0840 Days in the Book of John - 0940 Days in the Book of John - 1040 Days in the Book of John - 1140 Days in the Book of John - 1340 Days in the Book of John - 1240 Days in the Book of John - 1440 Days in the Book of John - 1540 Days in the Book of John - 1640 Days in the Book of John - 1740 Days in the Book of John - 1840 Days in the Book of John - 1940 Days in the Book of John - 2040 Days in the Book of John - 2140 Days in the Book of John - 2240 Days in the Book of John - 2340 Days in the Book of John - 24
May
40 Days in the Book of John - 2540 Days in the Book of John - 2640 Days in the Book of John - 2740 Days in the Book of John - 2840 Days in the Book of John - 2940 Days in the Book of John - 3040 Days in the Book of John - 3140 Days in the Book of John - 3240 Days in the Book of John - 3340 Days in the Book of John - 3440 Days in the Book of John - 3540 Days in the Book of John - 3640 Days in the Book of John - 3740 Days in the Book of John - 3840 Days in the Book of John - 3940 Days in the Book of John - 4040 Days Pondering Heaven - 0140 Days Pondering Heaven - 0240 Days Pondering Heaven - 0340 Days Pondering Heaven - 0440 Days Pondering Heaven - 05
June
40 Days Pondering Heaven - 0640 Days Pondering Heaven - 0740 Days Pondering Heaven - 0840 Days Pondering Heaven - 0940 Days Pondering Heaven - 1040 Days Pondering Heaven - 1140 Days Pondering Heaven - 1240 Days Pondering Heaven - 1340 Days Pondering Heaven - 1440 Days Pondering Heaven - 1540 Days Pondering Heaven - 1640 Days Pondering Heaven - 1740 Days Pondering Heaven - 1840 Days Pondering Heaven - 1940 Days Pondering Heaven - 20