A Prayer about Hearty, Gospel-Saturated Service
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23–24)
Jesus, I begin this day profoundly grateful for your relentless, never-ceasing work in my heart. You never sleep; you never slumber. You don’t just give me sleep but you give to me in my sleep. You’re the only reason that one day I will be free from all sin and as loving as you.
Oh, the hope this gives me— the invigorating, liberating, consecrating hope this generates as I begin my day. It’s why this admonition from Paul feels more like a kiss than a kick today. I want to work more heartily at all things because of your finished work on the cross, your present work in the world, and your future work in the new heaven and new earth. Even in eternity you will shepherd us and lead us to springs of living water (Rev. 7:17). No one will ever out serve you, Jesus.
Therefore, here’s my cry: continue to free me from doing anything for the approval of people, out of the fear of people, or to gain power over people. I work for you, Lord Jesus, not for mere men.
Free me for doing all things as unto you: loving my wife without manipulation, doing my job without self-congratulation, and serving your people without unrealistic expectations, to name a few.
How I praise you, Jesus, that the gospel is the end of any sense of a wage earning relationship with God. I work for you because you first worked for me. (What a humbling, staggering, and astonishing truth!) I serve you because you ever live to serve me, as my advocate and intercessor. Indeed, I love you because you first loved me and gave yourself as a propitiation for my sins. You are always first and last— the Alpha and the Omega.
I’ll receive an inheritance only because of your work, not mine. And should I receive any rewards or crowns, they will be thrown at your feet, giving credit where credit is due. I pray in your quintessentially glorious name.
Amen.