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Colossians 3
1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6for which things` sake the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in these things;
8but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don`t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, that is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can`t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God`s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. Be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through him.
18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and don`t be bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, don`t provoke your children, so that they won`t be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men-pleasers, but in singleness 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 reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord, Christ.
25For he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
"The milkmaid and the preacher both have callings from God. Work in your station as unto the Lord—this IS your worship on Monday. God hides Himself in ordinary callings; through your work, He cares for His world. You serve the...
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Generate a sermon →"Work offered to God becomes means of theosis—participation in divine life. The worker who labors for Christ shares in Christ's creative work. Whatever you do becomes sacramental when done prayerfully, consciously, for the Lord. Work too can be liturgy." — St.
"The inheritance Paul mentions is the reward at Christ's judgment seat. Work now; reward comes later. In this church age, we work faithfully, knowing the Lord evaluates all service. Occupy until He comes—and that includes occupational faithfulness. Every job is interim." — Warren Wiersbe.
"Work for the Lord means work that honors God—which includes just wages, fair treatment, dignified conditions. We cannot 'work heartily for the Lord' while exploiting workers. The employer who pays unfairly cannot claim to serve Christ. Work justice IS worship." — Jim Wallis.
"Every lawful calling is sacred—God assigns vocations for His glory. The cobbler and the bishop both serve God in their callings. Work 'as unto the Lord' acknowledges that Christ is Lord of all spheres. The inheritance reward is grace; the...
"The enslaved worked for human masters while knowing their true Master was Christ. This transformed degrading labor into dignified service. Whatever you do—however menial the world considers it—do it for the Lord. HE gives dignity to every task done for Him." — Howard Thurman.
"Work 'as unto the Lord' cannot justify exploitation. The God we serve liberates the oppressed—including oppressed workers. 'Not human masters'—this critiques masters who claim divine sanction for injustice. True work for God includes working for just labor conditions." — Gustavo Gutiérrez.
"'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' Our life is hidden with Christ. He is not merely our example or helper; He is our life itself. To be a Christian is to have Christ...
"Whatever you do—not just preaching or praying but WHATEVER—do it for the Lord. The plumber glorifies God with clean pipes; the baker with good bread. All honest work becomes worship when offered to Christ. Work heartily; your true Master sees and rewards." — Charles Spurgeon.
"Faith and work must integrate—Sunday worship and Monday labor cannot be compartmentalized. 'As unto the Lord' applies to boardroom and factory floor alike. The inheritance we serve for is coming kingdom; the work we do now participates in that future." — John Stott.
"Whatever YOUR work—do it for the Lord. Your boss may not appreciate you; your coworkers may not notice; but Christ sees and rewards. YOU work for HIM. That changes everything: your attitude, your effort, your integrity. Personal faithfulness in work matters." — Billy Graham.
"Work heartily—put your whole heart into it. This is practical holiness: sanctified hands and hearts in daily labor. Whatever work—manual or mental, paid or unpaid—becomes means of grace when offered to God. Holy living includes holy working." — John Wesley.