To Serve with Joy and Fervency

Michael E. Wood
February 23, 2011

Colossians 3:23, 24 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.

At the time of this writing, this passage confronts me as I sit at the desk the Lord has so graciously provided for me as a reminder to work heartily for Him and not for men. While being in a state of what the world calls unemployment, there remains many things of which to be employed. How easily we are persuaded by virtue of our interests or preferences to be more in earnest to be pleasing to the Lord in some things while viewing others of a less spiritual accommodation. And yet because of the grace that has been bestowed to us through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, everything we do is to be an outflow of that grace with an abundance of joy. So then, whether our lot be to serve Him in the context of a nine to five job which may seem to be of little eternal value, or as a house keeper, or of a position highly esteemed among men it matters not, for we serve the Lord Christ.

Father we ask you to forgive us when we become so shortsighted that we fail to see Your beauty and Your faithfulness in the everyday affairs of life. And we thank You for the understanding that Your glory is revealed not in what we do, but in Who You Are and what You have done through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Father of all mercies, we thank You that You remember us in our low estate and by Your good pleasure You remind us of our lofty position and our union with Christ, whereby we are enabled to be pleasing to You and serve You with gladness and humility of heart, knowing that we shall receive the reward of the inheritance. Help us by Your Spirit to do all that we do unto the praise of Your glory. In the precious Name of Jesus and for His sake we ask. Amen.

We thank You for the depths and heights
Of knowledge You display
And for Your Holy Spirit, Who
In truth now doth convey,
The splendor and the majesty
Of Christ; His righteousness,
As You our Father are well pleased
To show in all of us,
Of whom You have appointed
For Your glory and Your Name
To serve with joy and fervency
Regardless of our frame.
For You Oh LORD have promised
Both the blessing and supply
For all Your children, small and great
Who fear Your Name on high.

We thank You for the grace You give
To do our most menial task
And fill us with an answer
For the times that others ask.
“Why is it that you do the same
As others but with gladness?”
So many go about their day
All sullen and with sadness.
Oh help us by Your Spirit
And Your mercies to proclaim
And not of us but all of You
Give glory to Your Name.

For Christ has offered up Himself
And Is our Great Reward!
The Inheritance we will receive
From You Oh gracious LORD!
So heartily we do our work
For You and not for men,
And Jesus Christ, The Lord of all
Who freed from self and sin.
We trust in You Oh God our Help,
Oh LORD our mighty shield.
Who has remembered and will bless
As all to You we yield.
Oh help us bless You now on earth
In time and forevermore.
Give glory for Your steadfast love
Through Christ Whom we adore.