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Series: Christmas Vocations Part III
Devotional: 2 of 4In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (Luke 2:1)
We’re in a series exploring the vocations of some of the characters in the Christmas narrative and what they can teach us about our own work today. Today we come to Caesar Augustus.
This secular leader has a mixed legacy including brutal tales of how he came to rule over the Roman Empire. And yet, God chose to work through Augustus and his census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:2 that God’s chosen Messiah would be born in the town of David.
This reminds us of a remarkable truth we see all throughout Scripture—namely that God works in this world through non-believers and believers alike. This is one element of “common grace” which my friend Mike Kelsey (lead pastor at McLean Bible Church) defines as “the reality that God extends his goodness to and through people apart from a saving relationship with him.”
The number of ways common grace should practically shape our work are legion. Let me share just three today.
First, submit to leaders so long as their edicts don’t contradict God’s Word. Yes, even leaders you loathe. Why? Because “the one in authority is God’s servant for your good” (see Romans 13:1-7). I doubt Mary and Joseph agreed with Caesar Augustus’s politics. But they obeyed his commands and the world was blessed because of it.
Second, trust that God is at work in your workplace even if your leaders don’t believe in him. It can be really hard to work for leaders who are agnostic or even hostile towards your faith. But don’t fall for the lie that God is not working through them. Caesar Augustus reminds you that he is. There is no such thing as a truly “secular” workplace, because God is at work through believers and non-believers alike to accomplish his good and perfect will.
Finally, call out the good God is doing through non-Christians as a means of evangelism.
There are many things your secular co-workers do that are not good by God’s standards. But God can use those same co-workers to bring about genuinely good things in the world. When you see your non-Christian co-workers working with justice, love, and beauty, call them out on it, encouraging them that you see God working through them and their work. And see how those otherworldly words of blessing can open up doors to share the gospel today!
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Series: Christmas Vocations Part III
Devotional: 1 of 4And you, my child…will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him. (Luke 1:76)
Today we’re starting a new series here on The Word Before Work—a third installment of my semi-annual Christmas Vocations series where we explore the jobs of some of the characters of the Christmas narrative and what they can teach us about our own work today.
We begin with John the Baptist whose role was to “prepare the way” for Christ as we see in today’s passage—an excerpt from Zecharaiah’s prayer after John’s birth.
Right from the get go, John was told he would never be top dog. His purpose in life was to play the proverbial second fiddle to his cousin Jesus.
And all throughout the gospels, we see John joyfully embracing his secondary role. Referring to Jesus, John famously said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).
John knew his place in God’s cosmic drama. The question is do we? Sure we do intellectually. But functionally, I think many of us spend an ungodly amount of energy clamoring to be center stage. As Christian rapper Sho Baraka says, “we find ourselves feeling like extras on the set of life, trying desperately to write a meaningful part for ourselves.”
How does this restless search for a “more meaningful part” in God’s story show up? It looks like obsessing over “winning” and “being the best” at work, rather than leading and serving others well. Or believing the lie that you must do something extraordinary for your life to matter rather than basing your significance on Christ’s extraordinary work of adopting you into God’s family. Or fixating on having “more impact for the kingdom” instead of wholeheartedly working on what God has already entrusted to you.
If you can relate to what I’m talking about, please hear this: Ironically, it is only once we embrace our role as “extras on the set of life” and Jesus as the star that we can be truly “successful.” Because then success is secure regardless of the part you play. It is based on the fact that God has given you an irrevocable invitation to enjoy and participate in the only eternal production there is. And once you grasp that, you are free.
If you struggle embracing your role in the proverbial supporting cast of God’s kingdom, consider these three practices.
#1: Start every day on your knees in prayer, physically signifying your submission to Christ.
#2: Write John 3:30 and post it near your desk (“He must become greater; I must become less.”)
#3: Fast from social media for at least a week as these apps subtly (and not so subtly) try to convince us that we, rather than Christ, are the center of the story of life.
Now, go fade into the background behind Christ as you work today!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 7 of 7Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32)
If you’ve been following the biblical principles in this series, your efforts to make peace with those you’re in conflict with will likely go well. But they very well might not.
How are we to respond to those who are unrepentant and unmoving? Depending on the situation, you may be called to pursue mediation, arbitration, or public accountability (all three of which are addressed biblically and helpfully in Ken Sande’s excellent book, The Peacemaker).
But regardless of whether your situation calls for one of those more escalated responses, I can tell you one response we are all called to in every situation: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
Commenting on this verse, Dr. N. T. Wright says: “it is utterly inappropriate for one who knows the joy and release of being forgiven to refuse to share that blessing with another. [Furthermore] it is highly presumptuous to refuse to forgive one whom Christ himself has already forgiven.”
Amen. But hey: I know how impossible it can feel to forgive someone who has wronged you at work. If that’s you today, hear these words from pastor Tony Merida: “When your tank is empty, remember the tomb is empty!” The price Christ paid to forgive you was cosmically greater than the price you must pay to forgive your neighbor. Go and forgive likewise.
Today’s passage brings us to the 7th and final principle we’ll explore in this series. Here it is in context of the full list of 7 biblical principles for resolving conflict at work:
Praise the Prince of Peace for the grace and mercy he has shown you (Matthew 5:9)Make the First Move to resolve any conflict (Romans 12:18)Resolve to Overlook or Address the offense that has caused a lack of peace between you and someone else (Proverbs 19:11, 27:5)Pluck the Plank from your own eye before you address the offense of another (Matthew 7:3-5)Prepare Your Heart to bless the person you are in conflict with (Psalm 51:10)Address the Conflict with Grace that flows out of the grace you’ve been shown by Christ (Colossians 4:5-6)Forgive Freely as Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)Believer, you and I are called to be “salt and light” in our workplaces. How did Jesus say people will taste our proverbial saltiness? Check out Mark 9:50: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves,
and be at peace with each other.”
Pursue peace as a means of preserving your saltiness for God’s glory this and every day!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 6 of 7Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:5-6)
Today’s passage points us to the 6th biblical principle for resolving conflict at work…
Principle #6: Address the Conflict with Grace that flows out of the grace you’ve been shown by Christ.
As we saw a few weeks ago, sometimes we’re called to overlook an offense. But when we sense God prompting us to address it, we must do so graciously. This includes grace in our motives, methods, and medium of communication.
First, motives. Our motive in addressing conflict is primarily to bless rather than blame, help rather than hurt, and serve rather than shame.
Second, methods. Sometimes Jesus addressed sin via methods that were sharp, direct, and public, like the time he overturned tables in the temple. Other times, he opted for methods that were gentle, indirect, and private, like the conversation he had with the Samaritan woman at the well. Similarly, Scripture calls us to adjust our methods based on what will bless and restore the person we’re in conflict with (see Titus 1:13 and 1 Timothy 5:1).
Finally, medium. When Paul “had no peace of mind” because of an unresolved conflict, he didn’t send a letter, but went to resolve the issue in-person (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Similarly, John said he “would rather not use paper and ink” to share certain things (see 2 John 1:12).
Our motives, methods, and medium of communication all play a part in addressing conflict graciously. Now, let’s put those insights into practice. Throughout this series, I’ve been encouraging you to journal through how you will address conflict with a specific person at work. Pull open that note right now and work through these 5 steps.
#1: Review the plank in your eye you journaled a couple of weeks ago. And remember the grace and mercy Christ has shown you so that you can extend grace and mercy to the person you’re in conflict with.
#2: Write down the method of communication this situation calls for. Sharp or gentle? Direct or indirect? Private or public? Read Matthew 18:15-17 and pray for wisdom.
#3: Write down the medium you will use to address the conflict. Spoiler alert: I doubt God’s calling you to address it via email. In person is ideal. But if you work remotely, Zoom is a great alternative.
#4: Write down what you want to say (and don’t want to say) as clearly as you can. Sometimes writing down what I don’t plan to say is what best allows me to communicate with grace.
#5: Write down when you will address the other person. The sooner the better for God’s glory, their good, and your peace!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 5 of 7Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
We’re in a series exploring 7 biblical principles for resolving conflict at work. And let me tell you, this is as much for me as it is for you as I am not naturally good at pursuing peace.
For example, years ago, I worked with someone (let's call him Ryan) whose poor management caused me significant financial pain. Did I address the conflict? Not really. Because I knew I wouldn't have to work with Ryan again, so I found it easier to just “write him off.”
I’m ashamed to admit how I handled that situation, because Luke 6:27-28 convicts me of how incredibly unChristlike my response was. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Jesus calls us not only to avoid retaliation but to love, bless, and do good to those we have conflict with. If I had sought to bless Ryan, I would have addressed the conflict graciously to serve him and his future clients.
But that requires a heart transformed by God’s love, which is one of the reasons why I believe the psalmist prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Before addressing conflict, we need to embrace the 5th principle for resolving conflict at work…
Principle #5: Prepare Your Heart to bless the person you are in conflict with.
How can you do that for a person you feel a lack of peace with at work today? Here are three practices.
First, ask God for a heart that longs more to bless than to blame the person you’re confronting. Pray for Christ-like love that leads you to look primarily to their interests rather than your own (see Philippians 2:1-4).
Second, pray for the person you’re in conflict with. Right now, right where you’re at, obey Jesus’s command to “pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).
Finally, write down one practical thing you can do to bless this person. Is your conflict with a team member who’s missing deadlines? Bless them by gifting a time management resource you’ve found helpful. Did a co-worker take credit for your work? “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) by publicly praising their contribution to the team.
And don’t forget: Simply addressing conflict is a way to bless the person you have conflict with (see James 5:20). How can we do that in a gracious way? That’s the question we’ll answer next week!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 4 of 7Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
Out of nowhere, my colleague blindsided me with a super offensive comment—the kind of remark that could have easily destroyed our relationship.
I was furious and wanted nothing more than to retaliate. But by God’s grace, I took some time to see “the plank” in my own eye and realized that I had contributed greatly to the conflict.
I went to my friend and apologized for my part in the disagreement. And before I could even address how he had offended me, my friend offered up a sincere apology of his own. Today, our personal and professional relationship is stronger than ever.
This is an example of what Ken Sande calls the “Golden Result,” which is a corollary to the “Golden Rule.” As the expert peacemaker explains in his book, “If we blame others for a problem, they will usually blame in return. But if we say, ‘I was wrong,’ it is amazing how often the response will be, ‘It was my fault too.’”
How does God often bring about the Golden Result in conflict? By his people following this biblical principle…
Principle #4: Pluck the Plank from your own eye before you address the offense of another.
Commenting on Jesus’s words about “planks” and “specks” in Matthew 7:3-5, pastor Tony Merida says this: “Our assessment of the other person [in a conflict] is wrong…because something is blurring or blocking our vision. And it’s not a speck—it’s a 2 x 4! Jesus is saying our vision…in the midst of conflict is totally compromised when we fail to assess ourselves first.”
So, how practically do we go about plucking the plank from our own eye? Here are three ideas.
First, accept Jesus’s premise that you are the primary contributor to the problem. Again, here’s Merida: “While we most often think the other person has the log and we have the speck (‘Sure, I can own up to about 10 percent of this conflict, but they are most certainly creating 90 percent of it!’), Jesus flips this assumption around!”
Second, ask God for supernatural humility to see how you’ve contributed to the conflict.
Finally, journal about how you may have contributed to the conflict in the note I’ve been encouraging you to build throughout this series. Need some help? Journal through these questions:
What underlying desire do I have that this person is allegedly blocking? Is that desire God-honoring?What habitual sins, fears, insecurities, or past wounds might be fueling my reaction to this conflict?If a wise, Christ-like mentor observed this conflict, what planks might they see in my own eye?In what ways can I demonstrate Christ’s work in me by owning my part in this conflict?I’m praying those practices put you on a path to pursuing peace with those you work with today!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 3 of 7A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)
We’re in a series exploring seven biblical principles for resolving conflict at work. Here’s the third…
Principle #3: Resolve to Overlook or Address the offense that has caused a lack of peace between you and someone else.
You may be surprised to learn that Scripture commends overlooking certain offenses, but it’s there in black and white (see Proverbs 19:11). And I think we see evidence of this in the life of Christ.
Take Jesus’s exchange with the “rich young ruler.” After Jesus pointed to God’s commands such as the ones to “not murder,” and “not commit adultery,” the young man said, “All these things I have kept from my youth” (see Matthew 19:16-22). To which Jesus must have thought, “Really?”
While this man may not have technically murdered or cheated on his wife, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount made clear that no human (save Christ himself) is capable of keeping those commandments perfectly. Jesus undoubtedly saw pride and spiritual blindness in this young man’s heart. But he chose “to overlook [the] offense” in this particular interaction.
So yes, sometimes we’d be wise to overlook an offense. But other times, we’d be wise to address an offense that is leading to a lack of peace (see Proverbs 27:5). How can we discern when to overlook and when to address an offense that is causing conflict? Here are three steps.
#1: Write down the offense as clearly as you can. Because as Charles Kettering once said, “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” Go back to the note I encouraged you to start last week and complete this sentence: “I feel a lack of peace with [Name] because…” And be as detailed as you can about why you feel a lack of peace towards this person.
#2: Pray for wisdom on whether to address or overlook the offense. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
#3: Ask yourself these diagnostic questions.
Does the offense dishonor God?Has the offense damaged my relationship with the person?Has this person’s actions hurt themselves or others?Was the offending action done intentionally?Is the offending action a recurring issue?If I overlook the offense, will I continue to dwell on it?If the answer to all of these questions is “no,” then it’s probably wise to overlook the issue which, according to Ken Sande, “involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it, or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger.”
If you can do that, praise God! If not, we’ve got some more work to do together next week.
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 2 of 7If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve been waiting eight years for someone to make the first move in pursuing peace with me.
From my perspective, this person is the “more guilty” party in our conflict (whatever that means). But today’s passage has convicted me to take the first step toward peace. This verse is also the source of the second of seven biblical principles I’m sharing for resolving conflict at work….
Principle #2: Make the First Move to resolve any conflict.
This principle is directly connected to the first one we explored last week to “Praise the Prince of Peace for the grace and mercy he has shown you.” If Jesus waited for the guilty party to make the first move in resolving conflict, you and I would be eternally dead in our sin.
But Christ did move first. He pursued peace with us while we rejected him. And so, to follow Jesus fully includes following his example to blaze trails of peace with others. Which is why Paul said, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (see Romans 12:18). Hebrews 12:14 says the same thing: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.” The call here is proactive rather than reactive in the image of Christ.
What conflict is nagging at your attention most this Monday morning? Is it a team member you’re frustrated with for missing a deadline? Is it a boss whose stubborn opinion on a policy infuriates you? Is it a client who you’ve heard has been speaking poorly about you behind your back? Whatever it is, resolve to make the first move to pursue peace. To make this more practical, allow me to suggest you take a couple of minutes to complete these four actions.
First, create a note in a place that will be easily accessible throughout this series. It could be a note on your phone, desktop, journal—wherever.
Second, write down the name of the person you’ve been thinking of during this devotional. The one you have the most unresolved conflict with. Can’t think of anyone? Think about who you don’t want to see on Zoom, in the breakroom, or at the grocery store today. That’s the name!
Third, jot down Romans 12:18 underneath their name to remind yourself of the biblical call for you to make the first move in pursuing peace.
Fourth, pray for the name on your list and ask the Lord for wisdom as you pursue peace with them. Next week, we’ll get even more practical about what God’s Word says about how to do exactly that!
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Series: 7 Biblical Principles for Resolving Conflict at Work
Devotional: 1 of 7Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
In his excellent book The Peacemaker (which was hugely influential in my writing of this series), author Ken Sande defines conflict as “a difference in opinion or purpose that frustrates someone’s goals or desires.”
With that definition as our guide, it’s easy to see that “conflict” is everywhere in our work. But the command to make peace is everywhere in God’s Word.
After declaring “Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus went on to dedicate huge portions of the Sermon on the Mount to the art of resolving conflict (see Matthew 5:21-26, 38-41, 43-48, 6:14, and 7:1-5). Commenting on that sermon, pastor Tony Merida says, “Clearly being a peacemaker is a big deal to Jesus!”
It was also a big deal to Jesus’s followers. As Ken Sande points out, “every Epistle in the New Testament contains a command to live at peace with one another.” Take 1 Peter 3:11 as just one example. Peter says believers “must seek peace and pursue it.”
I am not a natural peacemaker. And I’m willing to bet that you’d admit the same. So, what will compel us to pursue peace per Christ’s command? That brings me to the first biblical principle for resolving conflict at work…
Principle #1: Praise the Prince of Peace for the grace and mercy he has shown you.
You and I were once God’s enemies (see Romans 5:10). But “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (see Romans 5:1). And staring at the peace Christ has secured for us is the key to sharing peace with others (see Matthew 18:21-35).
What does it look like practically to stare at the peace we’ve been given? Here are three ideas.
First, get on your knees and remember what God has saved you from. One of my closest friends starts every day this way as a means of praising the Prince of Peace.
Second, add a time of confession to your quiet time routine. Why? Because as Paul David Tripp points out, “No one gives grace better than [the one] who humbly admits that he desperately needs it himself.”
Finally, breathe in grace and mercy. Sande says that Christians ought to be people who “breathe grace” in conflict. But “we cannot breathe out what we have not breathed in.” So, try this physical practice. Literally exhale slowly as you confess your sins. Then breathe in slowly as a means of physically representing the life-giving peace that Christ secured on your behalf at Calvary.
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Series: Work in Heaven
Devotional: 5 of 5They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads….And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:4-5)
Today concludes our series exploring 5 biblical truths about work on the New Earth. Here they are again:
Truth #1: We who are in Christ will delight in our work for eternity.Truth #2: We will be rewarded with varying degrees of responsibility based on how we live and work today.Truth #3: We can expect some continuity between our work now and our work on the New Earth. Truth #4: We will have unlimited time to do the work we want to do for God’s glory.Truth #5: We will reign with Christ intimately forever and ever.I saved the best truth for last. Because it is that foundational truth—that we will finally be with God fully—that makes all the others so wonderful.
But read Revelation 22:5 again. We won’t just be with God. We will work and reign with him, which is exactly what he intended from the beginning (see Genesis 1:26-28).
On October 22, I’ll be publishing a picture book called The Royal in You to help you and your kids catch a vision of just how glorious this eternal vocation will be. As I say in the book…
The best part by far is King Jesus will be there,
making everything new with His peace, love, and care.
God says He won’t rule this world all on His own—
He’ll send princes and princesses out from His throne.
So don’t think for one second that Heaven is boring,
because we’ll be reigning, creating, and exploring!
Not just for our joy, and surely not for our glory,
but to love and to worship the One who is worthy.
It’ll be so much better than your wildest dreams—
ruling heaven on earth next to Jesus our King.
How should we respond to that vision of our eternal tomorrow today? Here are three ideas.
First, seek God’s face until you see his face. Not just when you’re studying your Bible before work. But right now. At your desk. Before your next appointment. Be relentless in seeking communion with him all day every day.
Second, play a mental tape of what King Jesus might say about your work today. Hebrews 6:10 says that “[God] will not forget your work.” And my guess is that those memories will fuel many of our interactions with Christ on the New Earth. What might Jesus say about how you worked today? Play it out mentally as a means of cultivating your hope and faithfulness.
Finally, baptize your imagination of work on the New Earth as a means of spurring your heart to worship. You can do this by memorizing some of the Scriptures we’ve read in this series, completing some of the practices, or by picking up a copy of The Royal in You.
But don’t miss this: worship of Jesus should be the response to all of that imagination. Eternity is not ultimately about us. It’s not ultimately about enjoying the work of our hands. It’s about worshiping “the One who is worthy!” I pray this series has helped you worship him even more enthusiastically.
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Series: Work in Heaven
Devotional: 4 of 5No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him…And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:3,5)
There are dozens of jobs I would love to try: write a musical, be a travel planner, design a bookstore, serve as personal photographer to a president or dignitary. The list goes on and on.
Why don’t I give one of these careers a shot? Because loving my neighbor through my work requires the pursuit of excellence in my work. And the pursuit of excellence requires loads of focus and time.
You simply can’t “do it all” if you want to do your most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others. But you can in the life to come!
That brings me to the fourth of five biblical truths about work on the New Earth we’re exploring in this series: We will have unlimited time to do the work we want to do for God’s glory.
Psalm 37:4 says this: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” On the New Earth, we will perfectly “delight in the Lord,” because we will be free from all sin. And so, there will be no disconnect between our desires and God’s. As Dr. Randy Alcorn explains, “our desires…will be sanctified and fulfilled on the New Earth”—including our desires for our work.
But that could be way off in the future. How should you and I respond to this truth today? Here are three ideas.
First, praise God for freeing you from the burden of finding your “dream job” in this life. He has found it and has it waiting for you on the other side!
Second, choose which skill you will master for God’s glory and the good of others in this season of life. Need help? Consider using my book, Master of One, as your guide.
Finally, put vocational dreams that distract you from mastering that skill on a Someday list. I have many of the vocational dreams I shared above in a “Someday” folder in my to-do list app, even though there’s almost zero chance I even touch those projects in this life. So why put them in there at all? Because it’s a way to remind myself that this life isn’t my only chance to “do it all.” If my desires align with God’s I’ll get to do everything I want to do very soon.
But right now, I’m going to focus intensely on mastering the work I’ve chosen to do in this season for the glory of God and the good of others. I pray this devotional frees you to do the same!
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Series: Work in Heaven
Devotional: 3 of 5Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…for their deeds will follow them. (Revelation 14:13)
A fortune teller once told Walt Disney that he would die on his birthday before he turned thirty-five. As Disney biographer Bob Thomas explains, “the prediction had a profound effect on him…he seemed to be in a race against time to accomplish all the work he wanted to do.”
Can you relate to Walt Disney? Of feeling like time is speeding up and the drumbeat of hurry only seems to be growing louder?
I used to feel that burden far more than I do today. What has God used to free me? Biblical truths about work on the New Earth in general and this one in particular: We can expect some continuity between our work now and our work on the New Earth.
What kinds of continuity? At least these two.
First, there will be some continuity in what we work with as Isaiah 60 promises that some of the best cultural goods from this life will miraculously be resurrected in the next one. The New Earth is not a return to the Stone Age. We can expect the very best work of all time as our starting point.
Second, there may be some continuity in our occupations on the New Earth. Revelation 14:13 says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…for their deeds will follow them.” Pastor John Mark Comer points out that the Greek word for “deeds” here can also mean “occupation.” In other words, you may be working today at the craft God intends for you to develop for his glory for eternity! (If that sounds terrible to you, don’t miss next week’s devotional.)
What should our response be to this promise of continuity between our work now and then? A remarkable lack of hurry today.
This has been one of the most profound and surprising benefits of meditating on the promise of work on the New Earth personally. I am far less hurried than I used to be. I am at peace with the fact that I (and you) will die with unfinished symphonies.
Because I know that if the things on my to-do list are on God’s to-do list, he will either 1) choose someone else to complete that work, 2) complete the work on his own, or 3) bless me with the opportunity to finish the work when I rise from the nap that is death.
I pray that as you meditate on these biblical truths, you will experience that same peace and lack of hurry in your own work today!
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Series: Work in Heaven
Devotional: 2 of 5“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” (Luke 19:17)
We’re in a series exploring 5 biblical truths about work on the New Earth. Today’s passage hints at the second: We will be rewarded with varying degrees of responsibility based on how we live and work today.
Now, if this sounds new to you, it's not your fault. Many churches never talk about eternal rewards. But Jesus did constantly. And one of the many rewards he promised is increased job responsibilities on the New Earth.
This is one of the lessons of Jesus’s parable of the minas (see Luke 19:11-27), which is similar to but distinct from the parable of the talents. The parable features a master (who represents Jesus) who asks a few servants to steward his minas (a form of money) while he goes on a journey. Upon his return, the master turns to the servants who have faithfully stewarded his minas and says, “Well done…Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities” (Luke 19:17).
Many scholars believe this parable is pointing to a clear truth: While all Christians share equal status as adopted children of God, we will not all share equal station and responsibility on the New Earth.
The great painter and activist Joni Eareckson Tada is properly motivated by this truth: “I don’t want to be among the least,” she told me on the Mere Christians podcast. “I want to do everything I can to be as happy in heaven and as useful to the King as I possibly can.”
Amen. I do too. And I‘m sure you want the same. So, what can we do today to prepare ourselves for maximum service to King Jesus on the New Earth? Here are two ideas.
First, articulate where you see yourself professionally in 5 million years. Seriously. Make a list of jobs you’d love to do for God’s glory free from the curse of sin and the tyranny of time. God gave you an imagination and the promise of eternal work you love. I’d be shocked to learn that he isn’t delighted in watching you—his child—use your biblically informed imagination to cultivate greater hope for the future and faithfulness in the present.
Second, write down one thing you can do today to prepare yourself for those roles on the New Earth. Instead of speaking first in today’s meeting, humbly listen to others first. Volunteer to take on the shift or task nobody else wants. Instead of applying for a promotion, consider recommending a qualified friend who needs the raise more than you do. For whoever “wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
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Series: Work in Heaven
Devotional: 1 of 5See, I will create new heavens and a new earth….my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain. (Isaiah 65:17, 22-23)
I talk a lot about the work God’s Word promises we will do for eternity. But I know this is a wild and new idea for many. If that’s you, let me bring you up to speed in three bullets:
Nobody will spend eternity “in heaven.” God promises to bring heaven to earth and to dwell with us here forever (see Revelation 21:1-5).While the present heaven is marked by rest (see Revelation 14:13), the New Earth is marked by active service and worship (see Revelation 22:3-5).We will worship God not just by singing but by long enjoying the work of our hands (see Isaiah 65:17-23).With those foundational truths under our feet, I’ll use the rest of this series to share 5 biblical truths about the nature of work on the New Earth. The first is seen clearly in today’s passage: We who are in Christ will delight in our work for eternity.
Why? Because we will be with God fully (see Revelation 21:1-5) and our work will be free from the curse of sin (see Revelation 22:3). Which is exactly what God intended from the beginning (see Genesis 1:26-28)!
It’s hard to imagine how glorious this will be. Thankfully, Rudyard Kipling imagined it for us in a beautiful poem I’ve hung on my office wall:
When Earth’s last picture is painted,
And the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colors have faded,
And the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it,
Lie down for an aeon or two,
’Till the Master of All Good Workmen
Shall put us to work anew. . . .
And no one shall work for the money.
And no one shall work for fame.
But each for the joy of the working,
And each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It
For the God of Things as They are!But that could be way off in the future. What does this mean for your work today? Let me suggest a practical response to the truth that we will one day delight in our work for eternity.
First, make a physical or digital list of things you hate about your current work. Difficulty hearing God’s voice, co-workers who can’t meet deadlines, the exhaustion that comes from grinding just to make ends meet, etc.
Second, put a line through the middle of each item and write “Isaiah 65” at the top of your list as a means of physically representing the hope of today’s passage.
Finally, pray every time you see the list. Pray for relief from those thorns and thistles. Praise God for how these challenges drive you to him. And praise him for the promise that one day, you will “long enjoy” your work free from these current frustrations.
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Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
Devotional: 5 of 5Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Today concludes our series exploring couplets of biblical truths that God calls us to hold in tension. Here’s our final piece of double-sided wisdom: Desire Good Things AND Be Content in All Things.
Many Christians don’t feel permission to desire. But Scripture gives it to us repeatedly! In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus encouraged his followers to “ask” for “good gifts.” And Psalm 37:4 urges us to "take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
So, while Scripture condemns fleshly desires (see Galatians 5:16-17), it clearly commends good and God-honoring desires like landing a promotion so you can serve more people or earning more income so you can give more generously.
But the flip side of this double-sided wisdom is to “be content with what you have” (see Hebrews 13:5). So, God delights in his children’s good desires and he also calls us to be content. The question I’m often asking is this: How can you and I cultivate contentment while simultaneously desiring the next thing? Here are three ideas.
#1: Measure progress backward rather than forward. When I’m chasing after a big goal, I default to measuring progress forward—between where I am now and where I desire to be. But I’m learning the wisdom of measuring progress backward—between where I am now and where I was before as a means of cultivating gratitude and contentment as I strive for what’s next.
I have actually done this physically in my office, by putting the books God has already allowed me to publish on the bookshelf behind where I sit as I look forward onto my laptop and whatever I’m striving for next.
#2: Praise God for anything he has given you beyond food and clothing. In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Paul says that “if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Why? Because that’s all Jesus promised his followers materially (see Matthew 6:28-33)! And that perspective should lead us to awe and contentment that God has given us anything else in addition to what he promised.
#3: Refuse to strive one day a week. One thing that makes biblical Sabbath distinct from the other six days of the week is the intentional cessation of striving. My family loves the life-giving discipline of simply enjoying what God has already given us while refusing to discuss or work on what’s next. If holding the tension between desiring good things and being content with what you have is a challenge for you, give Sabbath a shot.
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Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
Devotional: 4 of 5Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)
We’re in a series exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” we see throughout God’s Word. Today we come to the paradoxical couplet of biblical charges to Be Confident AND Stay Humble.
The call to confidence is found in passages like 2 Timothy 1:7 which says that “the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power.”
But you can hear the flip side of this double-sided wisdom—the call to humility—in passages like Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle.”
How do we reconcile these two seemingly conflicting commands? By recognizing that the source of our confidence is the Lord! That’s what Paul is telling us in today’s passage. His confidence in his work was not sourced in what he thought of himself or what others said about him. His confidence and competence came from God.
So it is with you and me. We don’t exude confidence at work because we think we’re awesome. We’re confident because we humbly recognize it is the Awesome God who works in and through us (see Philippians 2:13).
So, what does it look like practically to model both confidence and humility in the workplace? Here are three ideas.
#1: Set bigger, more God-honoring goals. Christians should be known for setting the biggest goals on the planet. Because we are confident that God is able to do “immeasurably more than we…imagine” through us (Ephesians 3:20). And the bigger our goals, the more we will be humbly driven to our knees, forced to rely on the Lord.
#2: Stay confident that you can but humble that you know how. It’s one thing to be confident about the vision you think God has called you to at work. It’s another thing to be arrogant about how to get that work done. Christians should be set apart in holding the “how” of projects loosely, open to the wisdom God has given to believers and non-believers alike.
#3: Boast about your weaknesses. It’s become cliche when you’re asked in an interview, “What’s your greatest weakness?” to reply with a strength disguised as a weakness. But what if you boasted about an actual weakness and pointed out how, despite that fault, God has enabled you to achieve so much in your career? That would preach! And it would be following Paul’s example of boasting in weaknesses “so that Christ’s power may rest on [you]” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Confidence and humility need not be opposites for the believer. Embody both as God works through you today!
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Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
Devotional: 3 of 5…because so many people were coming and going that [the apostles] did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31-32)
Job 11:6 says that, “True wisdom has two sides.” Which is why we’re exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” in this series—couplets of paradoxical truths that God calls us to hold in tension. Here’s today’s: Enjoy Self-Care AND Embrace Self-Sacrifice.
We see Jesus modeling the first side of this double-sided wisdom throughout the gospels as he “often withdrew to lonely places” for some peace, quiet, and prayer (Luke 5:16). And in today’s passage, we see Jesus offering self-care to his followers (see Mark 6:31-32).
And yet, the dominant theme of Jesus’s life was not self-care but self-sacrifice, the flip side of this double-sided wisdom. For “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (see Matthew 20:28).
So, Jesus made time for self-care and he modeled self-sacrifice. How did he hold these ideas in tension? Matthew 14 offers us a case study to that end.
Verses 1–12 records Jesus hearing the news that his beloved cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded. The first half of verse 13 tells us that “when Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately.” Clearly, he longed for self-care for his mind and soul.
But the crowds wouldn’t let him have it. The second half of verse 13 tells us that “hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.”
If there were ever a time when it would have been understandable for Jesus to choose self-care over self-sacrifice, it’s right here. But remarkably, Jesus doesn’t. Verse 14 says that “when Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Many times, self-care and self-sacrifice were not at odds for Jesus. But when they did compete, he always chose self-sacrifice. You and I are called to do the same (see Matthew 20:26-28, Romans 12:1, and Luke 9:23).
Practically, this might look like scheduling workouts before work for your own self-care—but being willing to sacrifice that workout when your spouse needs help on a difficult morning with the kids. Or prioritizing your self-care by setting clear boundaries on when you will and will not work—but being willing to sacrifice those boundaries when a hurting co-worker wants to grab a drink after work.
Embrace the way of Jesus by making time for self-care today. But ask God to prepare your heart to choose self-sacrifice when necessary for his glory and the good of others!
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Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
Devotional: 2 of 5Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
We’re in a series exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” we see in Scripture. Today we come to the couplet of biblical commands to Plan for Tomorrow AND Focus on Today.
The virtues of the first side of this double-sided wisdom can be seen in Proverbs 21:5: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Jesus echoed this idea in Luke 14:28-30 where he assumes that a good worker will “first sit down and estimate the cost” before “building a tower.”
In these passages and others, we see that it is wise to plan for the future. But the flip side of this double-sided wisdom is to “not worry about tomorrow” and focus on today (see Matthew 6:34).
So, how can we both plan for tomorrow and stay focused on today? Here are three practices that work for me.
#1: Schedule recurring times on your calendar to plan for the future. If you fail to plan for tomorrow, you plan to fail and worry tomorrow. Which is why I have three recurring items on my calendar: a quarterly, weekly, and daily review to plan what I will work on in the upcoming quarter, week, and day. This level of planning massively helps me not worry about tomorrow. Why? Because, to quote David Allen, “You can only feel good about what you're not doing when you know what you're not doing.” These reviews help ensure that I know what I’m choosing not to do.
#2: Block tomorrow’s worries from your physical view. The Daily Review I mentioned above is the only time I look at my calendar for tomorrow. Once my review is complete, I set my calendar back to show today only. That simple habit removes a ton of temptation to worry about tomorrow, allowing me to focus on what I believe God has called me to do today.
#3: When you’re feeling worried about tomorrow, take it to the Lord in prayer. Anxiety is the symptom that we’re not holding the tension between planning for the future and focusing on today well. When you experience symptoms of anxiety—tense muscles, a wandering mind, shallow breathing, etc.—“by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
With those practices in hand, go forth and focus fully on the good works God has for you today!
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Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
Devotional: 1 of 5“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)
My readers frequently tell me that they love my ability to extract wisdom from God’s Word and apply it to their work. I love that too, of course. But one of my greatest fears is that in our well-intentioned pursuit of living by “biblical principles,” we will become what author Jen Wilkin calls “Bible-worshippers” rather than “God-worshippers.”
That’s the red flag we see Jesus raising in today’s passage. Commenting on these verses, pastor Skye Jethani articulates this danger poignantly: “Discovering and applying [biblical] principles does not actually require a relationship with God….the Christian can put these new principles into practice without God being involved. God can be set aside while we remain in control of our lives. He may be praised, thanked, and worshipped for giving us his wise precepts for life, but as with an absentee watchmaker, God’s present participation is altogether optional.”
Is that convicting to you? It is for me. And those words bring me to the first piece of double-sided wisdom of this series: the biblical commands to Study the Word AND Seek the Author.
The biblical evidence for the “Study the Word” side of this double-sided wisdom is clear: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). “I cannot truly be a God-worshipper without loving the Bible deeply and reverently,” says Jen Wilkin. “Otherwise, I worship an unknown god.”
But study of God’s Word is a means to an end, and the end is God himself. That’s the flip side of this double-sided wisdom and what Jesus was getting at in today’s passage. “Eternal life” is not found in God’s Word, but in Jesus Christ—the Word who became flesh.
So, how can we hold this tension well? How can we study the Scriptures while ensuring we are seeking the Savior above all else? Here are three ideas.
#1: Calculate how much time you spent studying the Word versus seeking the Author this past week. Of course, there’s no biblically prescribed ratio of Bible study to prayer. But this quick analysis can be a helpful diagnostic of where you’re at today.
#2: When you close your Bible, open your heart in prayer. Martin Luther was a master at this. As much as Luther loved the Word, he loved God more and refused to finish his “quiet time” before conversing with his Father about what he just read. To see how Luther did this, read page 18 of Redeeming Your Time for free here.
#3: Resolve to spend more time listening to God than any other teacher of the Word—
including myself. Because while biblical principles are good and valuable, they are worthless without a relationship with the One who authored them.
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Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
Devotional: 7 of 7She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. (Proverbs 31:19-20)
The woman of Proverbs 31 described in today’s passage teaches us an important lesson about work and generosity—namely, that the two can be inextricably linked. As my friends at The Theology of Work Project explain:
Because she is successful in spinning, she has something to give to the poor, and conversely, her generous spirit is an essential element of her capability as an entrepreneur/executive. In other words, Proverbs claims that generosity and fiduciary duty do not conflict. Being generous to the needy out of the household’s resources does not reduce the owner’s wealth, but increases it.
Because God will always, always reward the kindness we show to the poor (see Proverbs 19:17). Sometimes in this life and sometimes in the life to come.
Jesus said this most famously in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20).
“Christ’s primary argument against amassing material wealth isn’t that it’s morally wrong but simply that it’s a poor investment,” says Dr. Randy Alcorn. “Jesus doesn’t say to do it because it’s right but because it’s smart. Because such treasures will last, Jesus argues from the bottom line. It’s not an emotional appeal; it’s a logical one.”
Amen. So, how can you and I invest in what lasts by being kind to the poor through our work today?
#1: Respectfully question any practices that might be disadvantaging the poor. Last year I followed the “best practices” of my industry by giving people a 20% discount if they paid for my retreat upfront instead of spreading payments out over three months. Who did that disadvantage? The very people who most needed the financial break! Thankfully, God revealed this error in my ways and gave me a chance to repent. Take a second right now to ask God which practices within your organization might be harming the poor.
#2: Advocate for a benevolence fund at your company to help employees in times of crisis, such as unexpected medical expenses, housing issues, or natural disasters.
#3: Volunteer your professional skills to a non-profit that supports the poor.
Again, don’t take actions like these just because they are the right response to the gospel. Take them because they’re wise.
Proverbs 19:17 says that “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Take God at his word and make the wise investment to be generous to the poor today!
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