Labor Day: Your labor for the Lord is not in vain!
(Today’s Labor Day devotion was originally published on February 1, 2022. Enjoy the break from your normal labor, but always keep in mind your labor for the Lord always has meaning and purpose and value!)
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Not in vain.
Some days it just doesn’t feel worth it.
The house you cleaned up is dirty again. The laundry you just put away is back in the hamper. The presentation prepared for work, not accepted. The practice you put in to make the team wasn’t enough. The volunteer effort you gave…no one said a word of appreciation.
Perhaps there are days where you feel like King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes: “Meaningless.”
One works hard, only to retire and see your job filled by a college graduate. A company you poured your life into closes. Your degree you spent hours earning, didn’t do any good to get a job.
And the list goes on.
Every earthly aspect of our life can very much feel meaningless because it is all temporary. We seek to make a difference, leave a legacy, or make a significant impact. But in the end, what will your obituary say?
Did your life have meaning and purpose or just fade into nothing?
Life lacks significant meaning and purpose if I am just living for myself or for earthly accolades. Where significant meaning and purpose come is when I live life for God’s purposes and to God’s glory. The Apostle Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The reason that Paul can give this encouragement falls on the heels of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus is dead, faith is dead. Life loses its meaning and purpose. Yet when we have the hope and reality of Christ’s resurrection, it gives us something to live for because we are living not just for this world, but for an eternity with the Lord.
What is done for the world is temporary. What is done for the Lord is eternal.
So if you really want to have purpose and meaning and significance, live and labor for the Lord.
Labor done for the Lord is not in vain.
Here’s what that looks like. You may not make the team, but your effort was a witness to your faith in the Lord. Your presentation may not be accepted by your boss, but your integrity is a testimony to who you really work for. If it seems like your tasks are purposeless, when your focus is to serve and glorify the Lord, everything you do has significance and nothing you do is in vain.
So enjoy your Wednesday…give yourself FULLY to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Apply: This whole week is God’s Spirit changing my focus on living for self or that which is temporary to that which is eternal. How is this giving deeper meaning to your day?
Prayer: Lord, help me each day to labor for you and remember that my labor for you is never in vain. AMEN.
I am the Church: More than We Can Imagine!
This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
These words invite us to stop and consider what Paul is saying.
God is able to do more than we ask. We come to him with specific requests, hopes, and plans. We ask him to provide, heal, guide, and open doors. Yet God’s ability is never limited by the size of our prayers.
But Paul goes even further.
God is able to do more than we imagine.
Our imagination has limits. We see what is directly in front of us. We calculate based on our resources. We look at our weaknesses and assume they determine what is possible. We see the size of the problem and forget the greatness of our God.
But God sees more.
This does not mean God promises to give us everything we want or fulfill every dream exactly as we picture it. Rather, it reminds us that God’s purposes and power are greater than our understanding.
The greatest example is the Gospel itself.
Who would have imagined salvation coming through a cross?
The disciples saw defeat. God was accomplishing victory.
The tomb appeared final. God raised Jesus from the dead.
What looked like weakness became the display of God’s greatest power.
This is the God who is at work in his Church.
That matters when we look at the challenges in front of us. It matters when we wonder whether the Church can make a difference. It matters when we feel small, weak, or insufficient.
The future of God’s Church does not depend on the size of our imagination.
It depends on the power of God.
Paul concludes, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).
The Church exists for God’s glory. Christ has called us, gathered us, and continues to work through us.
So today, bring your prayers to God. Ask boldly. Trust humbly. Remember that even when you cannot see what God is doing, his power is still at work.
You may not know what tomorrow holds.
But you know the God who can do more than you can imagine.
Reflect: Where have you limited what God can do because of what you can see? What can you place into God’s hands today with trust?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have measured your power by my own understanding. Help me trust that you are working even when I cannot see the outcome. Strengthen my faith to pray boldly and live confidently in your promises. Use me as part of your Church so that my life may bring glory to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I am the Church: Strengthened inside!
This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
There are many things we pray for when life feels difficult. We pray for healing, direction, provision, and relief. We ask God to change circumstances that feel overwhelming and to remove burdens that seem too heavy to carry.
Paul certainly knew about difficult circumstances. As he wrote to the Ephesians, he was a prisoner. Yet when he prayed for God’s people, he did not begin by asking God to make their lives easier. He prayed for something deeper.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Ephesians 3:14–15).
Paul begins with family.
God is not a distant force we must somehow reach. Through Christ, we come to him as our Father. We belong to his family. Before Paul asks for strength, he reminds us of where that strength comes from. It comes from the One who knows us, loves us, and has claimed us as his own.
Then Paul prays, “That out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).
Notice where Paul wants God’s strength to work. Not merely in our circumstances, but in our inner being.
There are days when we may not have the strength to change what is happening around us. The problem may remain. The uncertainty may continue. The burden may not disappear. But God is able to strengthen us from within.
This is not simply positive thinking or trying harder. It is the work of God’s Spirit. Paul prays that Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith and that we would be rooted and established in love.
A tree can stand through a storm because its roots go deeper than what we can see.
The same is true for faith.
When life is calm, it is easy to assume we are strong. But storms reveal where our roots are planted. Paul reminds us that the Christian life is sustained by something deeper than our own determination. We are rooted in the love of Christ.
And that love is beyond our ability to measure.
Paul prays that we might grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Christ’s love. We may never fully comprehend it, but we can spend a lifetime growing in it.
Perhaps that is exactly the strength you need today. Not the promise that everything will immediately become easier, but the assurance that you are not facing anything alone.
You have a Father who hears you.
You have a Spirit who strengthens you.
You have a Savior whose love surrounds you.
As Paul reminds us, we are rooted together with all God’s people in a love greater than we can fully understand. The Church is not sustained by the strength of its people. It is sustained by the presence and power of God.
Today, do not measure your strength by how strong you feel.
Measure it by the One who holds you.
Reflect: Where do you need God’s strength in your inner being today? How does knowing you are rooted in Christ’s love change the way you face your struggles?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for welcoming me into your family through Christ. Strengthen me through your Spirit when I feel weak, discouraged, or overwhelmed. Root me deeply in the love of Christ so that I may stand firm through every circumstance. Help me to trust not in my own strength, but in your glorious riches and unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I am the Church: Made a Servant by Grace
This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul had an impressive story to tell. He had been a Pharisee, educated and respected. He was passionate, driven, and convinced that he was doing God’s work. But when Paul describes his ministry in Ephesians 3, he does not point to his accomplishments, intelligence, or qualifications.
Paul understood something that is easy for us to forget. Our place in God’s work is not something we earn. It is a gift of grace.
That was especially remarkable in Paul’s case. Before becoming an apostle, Paul had persecuted Christians. He had worked against the very Church he would later serve. Yet Christ forgave him, called him, and gave him the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel.
Paul never got over that grace.
Sometimes we think God can use other people, but not us. We see our weaknesses, failures, and limitations. We wonder whether we have enough knowledge, enough ability, or enough faith to make a difference.
Paul would understand.
But the good news is that God’s work has never depended on finding perfect people. God works through forgiven people.
The same grace that saves us also gives us a purpose.
Paul was not saved merely so he could enjoy forgiveness for himself. He was given the privilege of making known “the boundless riches of Christ” to others. His life became a testimony to the grace he had received.
The same is true for us.
God may not call you to travel the world as an apostle, but He has placed you somewhere. He has given you people to love, opportunities to serve, and a story to share. Your vocation, relationships, abilities, and experiences can all become places where God’s grace is made known.
Every interaction is an opportunity to share God’s love and grace.
Today, don’t focus first on whether you feel qualified. Remember Paul’s words: “This grace was given me.”
The grace given to you in Christ is not only your hope for eternity. It is also the beginning of a life that God can use for His purposes.
You are a servant of the Gospel by grace.
Reflect: Where do I feel unqualified or unable to serve God? How might God’s grace work through me to bless someone else?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace You have given me. I know that I have not earned Your love or deserved a place in Your kingdom. Yet You have forgiven me, called me Your own, and given me opportunities to serve. When I feel unqualified, remind me that Your power is greater than my weakness. Help me share the riches of Your grace with the people You have placed in my life. Let my life point others to You. Amen.
You know the Mystery!
This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
There is something appealing about a mystery. We enjoy trying to uncover what is hidden, solve what is unknown, and finally discover the answer.
But when Paul speaks about a “mystery” in Ephesians 3, he is not describing something we need to figure out. He is describing something God has revealed.
Gentiles are heirs together with Israel.
For generations, God’s people had waited for the fulfillment of his promises. Now, in Christ, God revealed the fullness of his plan. His grace was bigger than anyone imagined. The wall between Jew and Gentile was broken down. Those who were once far away were brought near.
The mystery was revealed.
And the mystery is still amazing.
Through the Gospel, Jesus does more than forgive your sins and prepare a place for you in heaven. He brings you in. He gives you a family. He makes you an heir. He joins you to his body. He makes you a sharer in promises that you could never earn for yourself.
That is why Paul previously wrote, “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19).
Perhaps you have experienced what it feels like to be an outsider. Maybe you walked into a room where everyone knew one another except you. Perhaps you have felt excluded, overlooked, or wondered whether there was really a place for you.
The Gospel speaks directly into that longing.
In Christ, you are not standing outside hoping someone will notice you. God himself has brought you near. Jesus has opened the door. By his grace, you belong.
And notice that Paul repeatedly uses the word together. We are heirs together, members together, and sharers together.
God’s plan was never simply to save isolated individuals. He is gathering a people for himself.
That changes how we see the person sitting beside us in worship. We may not share the same background, personality, or preferences. But we share something far greater. We share Christ.
Our unity is not something we manufacture. It is a gift Christ has created.
This week, remember that you have been brought into something bigger than yourself. You are part of God’s family by grace. And because you know what it means to be welcomed by Christ, you have the opportunity to welcome others.
Look for someone who may feel like an outsider. Offer a conversation. Learn a name. Extend an invitation. Sometimes a simple act of welcome can reflect a profound Gospel truth.
The Gospel does not merely tell us that we can come near to God.
Through Christ, God brings us home.