“¹⁵So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. ¹⁶Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, ¹⁷comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (ESV)

Paul reminds us here that we have everything we need as Christians. We have all the teachings, love, grace, and hope from Jesus and God. We are to take comfort and establish our hearts with those and do the work of God.

We are going to have adversity and our job is to “stand firm” and do the work. Stay true to the teachings of God and know the work for Christ is the important work and everything else is cursory and of much lessor value. The value of the work put on by others is not important. When we are doing the work of God, our value is in him, “who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.”

When you are doing the work of Christ, are you looking around at what others see or think? Are you just doing the work of God? Are you standing firm in that work?

“¹³And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

These words of Paul to the church at Thessalonica are true even today. We have heard the Word of God and we have the chance to accept it either as words of the men saying them or as the Word of God being spread by man. God’s Word does not get to us generally on its own.

I know someone that was not following the Word of God and in fact could not, until someone exclaimed the love of Christ to them. Once that love was shared, they were able to read the Word of God and has been living them ever since.

Once we have been given the Word of God it should be difficult to put down. And because of our dedication to the Word, we will continue with the work of God in obedience to God.

When you are in the Word of God, are you able to put it down? Are you able to use the Word of God in your work? Is the Word of God continually at work in you?

“²²Slaves, obey in everything those who are you earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV)

We work for Christ and that is where our focus should be. Not to please the boss, not to look good in the sight of others, but for Christ alone and our inheritance in heaven.

Verse 23 above even says we should “work heartily”. We should be giving it our all. Not trying to get by, but giving our all. When our work is done, we should be proud of the effort we gave and we should move on to our next task and “work heartily” at that.

I know that I get bogged down in that last sentence and just want to recuperate after giving it everything. But isn’t that what the “Sabbath” is for? I have to remember that I should be working hard for Christ at every turn for the 6 days and then celebrating, worshipping, resting, relaxing, and recuperating on Sunday in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

What about you, are you working to please others? Are you working heartily? What does you post work look like, on to the next task for Christ? Are you doing all work as if for Christ Himself?

True integrity is what you do when no one is watching. And with that is/should be a level of fear and want.

“¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” – Philippians 2:12-14 (ESV)

When reading the above passage, I am taken to the things that I have learned in business. To have integrity in all that I do, as well as be aware of the consequences and want to do well.

It is easy to let things go when no one is watching. But what happens when we are called into the office and shown the video of our actions. Amazing how we become sheepish and defensive, all because we got caught. Now think about it, God is always watching.

Paul was not around at this time for the Philippians and he is reminding them that just because he was not around, did not mean that they were able to slack off in their work for Christ. In fact, they had to bear down and seek the will of God who placed it on their heart.

When you are out working for Christ, are you aware of those that are not there watching? What actions are you taking? Are you demonstrating integrity, fear, and want in that work?

Look around your house. See that project in the garage that is unfinished. Remember that study you were working on but put down.

“⁶And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

God finishes His project, you. I sometimes forget this part. I know that God is with me always and will guide me through this life, but I forget that He is still working on my each day. I am His project. He has not neglected me. He has not abandoned me for some other “more important” project. He is still working on me.

As I study this morning I realize that God has given me tasks to complete and once I have completed those, He will reveal Himself to me to set me toward the next item on His to-do-list for me. God is the ever present coach that gives instruction and then allows us to do the work for our own sake. We are learning and growing in Him.

It is up to us to dive in and do the work. We have to study God’s Word to discern what is next. We are to look to Him for our next assignment. We are work to completion and know that God completes everything.

Where are you today? What tasks for God have you maybe walked away from? Are you aware and embracing that God finishes His work, you?

We have the ability to do many things. Where does that come from?

“²⁰Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” – Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

Well there you go. Through “his power that is at work within us” – NIV. On our own, we are left to do human things. However with the power of God, we are able to far exceed human things. See the below verse as one that most of us have heard/seen before.

“¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

Paul, now in two letters has addressed where our power comes from and, more importantly who it comes from. Our ability is not our own, and we owe praise to God for what He has provided for us.

“²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:21 (ESV)

Are you able to embrace the power of God within you? Are you able to use that power to accomplish more than you thought possible? What does the power of God at work look like in your life?

When you take time to do work, what care are you using? What are you looking to accomplish?

“¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundations with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—¹³each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” – 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (ESV)

In reading this morning, the work we are doing will be revealed. We have a choice on the craftsmanship we take with the work we do for God. We can choose quality work and be master craftsman (“gold, silver, precious stones”) or we can choose inferior work and just get the job done (“wood, hay, straw”). When fire is introduced, which will sustain?

Not only must we do quality work, but we must start with a solid foundation, Jesus.

“¹⁰According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (ESV)

It all starts with a solid foundation, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. We may have the best materials and the best plan, however if we are not building on Christ, our work is inferior.

We are tasked with doing the work of God. In that work, we are to have the pride of the master craftsman. We are to build only on the foundations of Christ with those materials. When we do, we will receive our reward.

“¹⁴If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.” – 1 Corinthians 3:14 (ESV)

When you are doing God’s work, what materials are you using? What about the foundations you are doing God’s work? What kind of work are you doing?

This really is hard for me to understand and accept. God allows me to suffer so that His works are displayed for all to see.

“¹As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ²And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ³Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.’” – John 9:1-4 (ESV)

Here is an example of someone suffering for his entire life, “blind from birth”, and he was given the opportunity to display the works of God as Jesus was able to heal him for all to recognize. This man was/is a testimony to the works of God. He was known around town as the blind beggar and yet now he is able to see at the hand of Jesus.

For me, this man was not looking to be healed, he was not searching for it, he was dealing with his suffering and Jesus came to deliver him from his suffering. Have I been looking too intently for deliverance, and not just carrying out the works of God? Have I been looking for relief, when I should be looking only to complete the Lord’s work?

My suffering has not been to the extent of living my whole life not being able to see, as the man above. I have been suffering only for a short while comparatively, but I have been suffering. Jesus here indicates that our role is simply to do the works of God, so that is what I should do. Regardless of our circumstances, we are to be doing God’s work and His work will be on display for all to see.

Are you simply doing the work of God? What suffering have you been enduring? How can you use your suffering for the work of God?

I am intrigued that doing right is looked on as wrong in society and how that society justifies its actions but looks onto others with contempt.

“²¹Jesus answered them, ‘I did one work, and you all marvel at it. ²²Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. ²³If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? ²⁴Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’” – John 7:21-24 (ESV)

Jesus explains to the crowd that he healed a man’s physical body on the Sabbath and was chastised and vilified when circumcisions are allowed to happen on the Sabbath without so much as a cross eye. Yes, the law of Moses indicated that no work was to be done on the Sabbath, but isn’t circumcision work? Isn’t it done in hospitals with the birth of boys even today, by a doctor? We spend too much time looking at the rule and not enough time taking in the spirit of the rule.

When we are doing the work of God, we should not concern ourselves with whether or not someone is offended by God’s work. God is Love and His work is done in Love. If someone is offended or we are kept in contempt, then so be it. Those that are and do are likely concerned more with their own shortcomings and are looking to deflect that to us.

When you are doing the work of God, are you concerned with your appearances? Are we looking on others with contempt as they do the work of God? Is God’s Work drawing ire around you?

We should be doing the work of God and are commanded to obey Him and do that work, but what is that work?

“²⁸Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ ²⁹Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” – John 6:28-29 (ESV)

Jesus straightens that right up in the above verses. The crowd is asking and Jesus answers. Aren’t we like the crowd and always looking for something tangible to help us understand? Remember Thomas who needed tangible proof that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead. We are always looking to get our hands on something as “proof” but our faith should be strong enough. Isn’t our faith believing in God?

“²⁶Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’” – John 6:26-27 (ESV)

I tend to find myself in the same state as the crowd Jesus is speaking to here in that I am waiting for the reward/result of my labor. I am looking to get something out of the work I am doing as opposed to just doing God’s work with faith that my reward will come. When I am doing the work of God, I should be simply doing the work of God and that work is clarified by Jesus as “believe in him who he has sent.”

What is your reason for doing the work of God? What do you understand as the work of God? Are you doing that work?