through 4.1, Colossians 3.22 through 4.1, which reads, bond servants obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye service as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a master in heaven. Good morning. Since we've begun the study in Colossians, I've had my eyes on this verse. Been looking forward to it. It's one of my favorite truths to look at and to remember throughout the work week. So let us go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, We're just so grateful for you for your work in our lives and the lives of each of the families that are here, Lord. And we ask that you would move, that you would speak to us here this morning from your word, Lord, that you would give me the grace needed to be clear and to be honest about what your word calls us to do. Help us to see you, Lord. Help us to come forward encouraged. by who you are and how you do give us much grace and mercy. Lord, we thank you for the worship we've been able to enjoy already and pray that this would be a continuation of it as we open your word. It's in Christ's name we pray, amen. So here in Colossians, we're continuing this study, this short mini series on the Lordship of Christ. In Colossians 3, 18 through chapter four, verse one, the apostle Paul's calling us as Christians to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. On the first week, we heard what it means for Christ to be the Lord of our marriages, right? The husbands and wives loving, submitting as they're called by God to do, bring honor to God. Last week, we looked at what it means for Christ to be the Lord over our families, children and parents interacting with one another in a way that just reflects the will of God and the beauty of God. Overall, we see in this larger passage how we as Christians are called to submit to the Lord by submitting ourselves to the authorities in our lives, whatever those authorities may be. So as we move into this passage, I wanna tell you about a time where we had a visitor. I spoke with this man named Sean Yates. Some of you may know Sean Yates, some of you may not. He was visiting and when I introduced myself, I started with a common question that you've probably been asked before. I asked him, so what do you do for a living? He began to tell me how he works for a ministry that supports business leaders. And in this ministry, they focus on integrating Christian principles into that business. That seemed pretty cool, so we had a good long conversation about how Shawn Yates would work to integrate Christian principles into business. Well, I tell you that because our text today is that exact same ministry for each of us, how we integrate Christian principles into the business that we do, the work that we do. In today's passage, we'll be learning about Christ's lordship over our work, how we serve Christ in our daily activities, how we live out our Christian witness in our daily work. So Sean started in on this discussion by pointing out this obvious yet profound truth to me. He says, many of us spend a significant portion of our lives, the majority of our waking lives, working. Now, even those who don't have a nine to five job still have tasks that you're given, things you have to consider, that you have to put time and energy and effort into. That's what we're talking about today, the work that you do. We may view our jobs as something we simply do to earn a living, right? Just make a paycheck. Pay the bills. We may see our daily work as nothing more than a drudgery, a to-do list, something to check off. Complete, complete, complete. But we're called as Christians, and this is what this verse challenges us on here this morning, we're called as Christians to view our work as something much more significant than a drudgery and a to-do list. It's design, grand design, beautiful design. And today this verse points us to that greater purpose in our work, obedience and worship to God, and there is no greater purpose. Our faith impacts every aspect of our lives, yes? You agree? Including how we approach our work. Whatever you do, we're told at the center of our verses today, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. As Christians, we're called to work with excellence, with integrity, with faithfulness, no matter how difficult the situations, no matter how difficult the people. We're called to worship our creator and king in our day-to-day tasks. So, let's start in on our text. We'll look here at verse 22, and we're gonna do a little bit of review on the text itself. We have to look at the fact that it starts with bond servants, or more literally, slaves. Now, Paul here is not intending to condone slavery, nor is he denouncing slavery. That's not his point. He's not dealing with slavery. Paul's intent here is not to say slavery's bad or slavery's good. But this word literally is slave, an owned slave, a reference to someone who's purchased and owned. And in the Greco-Roman world, this would have been very common. In fact, some estimates say that the Greco-Roman world was 50% slaves. Now, scripture clearly does condemn slavery. Say where? Well, 1 Timothy 1.10, slave traders are put on a list of those who are contrary to sound doctrine. The Western idea of slavery and the slave trade is certainly condemned in so many places throughout God's word. But Paul here, and what we're dealing with this morning, is more about the heart of serving God and obeying God wherever you are. Paul's speaking to all Christians where they're at, regardless of their status, regardless of their station, regardless of their circumstances, whether a slave or a master, we're called to obey our greater master, the Lord Jesus Christ. So does this command have any relevance to you and to me? Say yes, it does. It absolutely does, because we all belong to Christ and are all under His Lordship. And the text reflects the privilege, the joy of serving Christ in all the work that we do. If obedience to the Lordship of Christ is true for slaves in Paul's day, then it's true for you and I as slaves of righteousness and slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ. So this truth applies. And as we go into this truth, I just have to tell you that theology of work is one of my favorite subjects. I just love it. So this was challenging to try and narrow in on just what is this text saying about our theology of work. But I need to set the stage for our broader biblical belief about work. Well, I'm gonna start by saying this, we're made to work. Paul didn't hesitate to jump right into this discussion about everything you do and when you work, work heartily. He has this reality in his mind that we are made to work, not just a vocation, not just a career, but all work. We're made to have tasks. We're designed to have goals. We love to complete projects, don't we? Even the smallest of projects, the refinishing furniture project, the craft project, the gardening project, whatever it may be, we love that. We're made for that. I understand that many in this world, sadly, are just living not for their work, but for retirement. Well, the goal is not to stop working, but to walk in Christ and enjoy working. Many work just for the sake of that next vacation, looking forward to the school semester ending, or looking for that PTO to add up so you can take a break. I understand this, I'm not discouraging rest and the importance of it, but the truth here is that we were made saints to work. That's what we're made for. When a task is to be completed and it takes the thought that we put into it, it requires effort and energy, collaboration even, consideration of different variables, it's so satisfying to complete it, to finish it. Why? Because God made us this way. were made to work. On top of that, scripture clearly calls us to regularly roll up our sleeves and get to work. I'm sure Paul would have expected the church at Colossae to be familiar with some of these other truths that were being taught in the broader region. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Also, this truth was probably being passed around. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. basic biblical truth on work. It's part of our design. Dating all the way back, we can go to Genesis and to Adam, right? The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden. Why? To work it and to keep it. Work. It's not just there before the fall, but it's how God designed us all the way back to the people of Israel during Nehemiah's time. You may not be familiar with this verse, but in Nehemiah 4.6, They built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Paul was a tent maker. Even the Son of God worked as a carpenter, didn't he? We're given the good gift of work and called by Christ to work for the glory of God. So that's our broader biblical truth on work. Let's look directly at our text. We covered bond servants, and how we are all slaves now, and so we identify with this direction given to us. Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters. Obey in everything. This is where we're at. Everything. Look at the text. Look at that word, everything. In fact, in the very next verse, it says, whatever you do, Well, Sean, who I mentioned earlier, he shared another interesting fact about work that I found to be very helpful. As people, isn't it true that we tend to compartmentalize our work? Isn't it true that we have a secular life in our mind and a spiritual life in our mind? Perhaps we have home life, personal life, work life. These things, you know, they get put into neat categories where we can contain them and control them. It can be so easy to separate our faith from our daily life. It can be so easy to separate our weekdays from our weekends, the secular from the spiritual. But we must, must resist the temptation because this verse says everything. Not this thing over here and that thing over there. But everything must come under the Lordship of Christ. Resist the pull to categorize the spiritual work and the unspiritual work. God's Word focuses on whatever you are doing, whatever that task may be, showing us that no job is menial or insignificant. No, folding the laundry is not unimportant. Is that too many negatives? You follow what I'm saying. Work done in obedience to God is pleasing to God, whatever that work may be. Whatever that work may be. You think about it, right, this context of slaves. This role of slave, first of all, was not a choice. And I promise you, it was not a desired role. It doesn't show up, this role of slaves, on the list when we ask a child, what do you wanna be when you grow up? Don't we ask that question? What do you wanna be, little Johnny, when you grow up? What do you wanna do for a living? You wanna be a fireman, an astronaut, right? But the question for our heart is not what do you wanna be when you grow up? The question for our hearts this morning is how can I serve the Lord with whatever I do? That's our question. We seek to honor God in all that we do, even the most mundane of tasks. I would be amiss if I did not mention Martin Luther at this point, because Martin Luther, I'm told, did more for the reformation of the theology of work than possibly any other Protestant teacher. How? Well, Martin Luther says, a poor milkmaid milking, if done in faith, is more glorious than the conquests and triumphs of Caesar and Alexander. A milkmaid milking, if done in faith, is more glorious to God. And whatever you do, if done in faith, brings more glory to God than all the triumphs of this world. From the Reformation, we see this principle We see this principle known as the priesthood of believers, that all that we do, whatever we do, if done in faith, is pleasing to God. All men and women are called to glorify God, each and every one of us, all of us together as a church, regardless of our vocation, regardless of our station, regardless of our economic class, whether slave or master in Paul's day, whether teacher, whether policeman, whether doctor, Yes, I am thinking of many of you as I say that. Whether homemaker, whether full-time student, whatever you do, you do to the glory of God. You do under Christ, and this applies to you. It doesn't matter if you're retired, filling your day with ministry, or whether you're a brand new hire working at Whataburger. Whatever we do, whatever role we fill, there is God-given purpose injected into it. There's no such thing as superficial or unimportant work here because it's for Christ. How can something being done for our Lord and Savior be unimportant? Everything you do is pointing to Christ, serving Christ, honoring Christ, glorifying Christ. Everything you do is serving the purpose and plan of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And this is glorious. Everything you do is for Christ. This is a great comfort. to many who feel trapped or stuck in their day-to-day work. I don't know if that's any of you. Regularly feeling the pull of what's next. Or you might say something like, my job has no growth. My job has no upward momentum. Perhaps you've been passed over for promotion after promotion, but you've been there the longest, just slaving away, never being noticed. And that can be discouraging. But here's a great comfort that what you're doing there is for Christ. Here's the main point of this passage. Whatever you do, you're serving the Lord in everything you do. Many understandably feel restricted and lacking purpose, longing for achievement in their day-to-day work, but in the perfect wisdom of Christ, think about this, in the perfect wisdom of Christ, you are placed there in a position of great honor, a servant of Christ. You've been placed there by God's kind and perfect providence in his perfect wisdom. You are there as a servant of the Lord. with this single purpose, working for him. Now, to illustrate this, I'm reminded of an account where Ronald Reagan, in 1986, visited NASA, and he was with a room of employees, and he asked them, who wants to volunteer sharing what you do for the space program? So perhaps one hand went up, oh, I'm an engineer over here. I procure important components for the spaceship. Well, one man spoke up and he says, I am putting a man on the moon. That's what he does. He's answering Ronald Reagan's question. I'm putting a man on the moon. Now that man was the janitor. But he understood what his purpose was. He's putting a man on the moon. And whatever you do, you work for the Lord. You serve the Lord and are part of something bigger than just yourself. You're part of his people, his body, his church, his family, his kingdom work. You're part of that, Saint. So let me give you four truths here this morning, four important truths that I see in our text today. And I hope that you'll take these truths with you into Monday. My prayer is that these truths will be like tools in your toolbox, grace to equip you for good works. Here's four tools. Number one, work ethic. Work ethic. Paul warns of two negative attitudes in verse 22 and again in verse 23. He says, not by way of eye service, not as people pleasers. And again in verse 23, not for men. Not just to be seen, not only working for the boss. What is your work ethic? Is your work ethic only really going at it when that boss is right over your shoulder? Are we looking to only get applause from men? The Christian work ethic defined here opposes all forms of sloth, all forms of laziness, It opposes time theft. It challenges us to be aware of how we might be tempted to take shortcuts or spend excessive time on our phone, on Facebook or TikTok or YouTube during work hours when we have tasks to be completed. Work ethic doesn't only work when the boss is watching. It doesn't only work hard if the project is going the way we want it to. It works hard because it's working for Christ. This work ethic is a helpful reminder not to procrastinate and put off till tomorrow what can be done today. We're reminded of the wisdom of God's word that tells us, go to the end, oh sluggard, consider her ways and be wise. We're to work with integrity, with honesty, with good stewardship of our time. And this is more than just avoiding laziness. This is the reality that we're called to be serving Christ as initiators, as risk-takers, as doers. is who we are in Christ. The Christians, as we're working, we ask the hard questions. We make the best trainers. We volunteer first. We sign up, we step up. This is our heart. Why? Because we're serving Christ. Not to get the accolades, not to get the next promotion. We're looking for opportunities to serve and be faithful. I teach my son Luke. See work. I want him to see it. Don't step over that and keep on walking. Stop and pick it up. See work, Christian, opportunities to be faithful to your Lord in the day-to-day. This work ethic is just dripping with humility. Hear it, not with eye service, right? Not so I can look good, so my pride can feel good. It removes all boasting from us, removes pride in what we've done with our hands. The songwriter Stuart Townend was right when he wrote, I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. That's what we boast in, not our work, not anything except Jesus. We're slaves of Christ, not yes men, right, looking for that next raise, only working hard if I get noticed or if I'm appreciated. We have a culture around us. that focuses a lot on the attaboys and the accolades and the appreciation. We're not working for that, Saint. We're working to please our master, our Lord, Jesus Christ, to honor him. The Christian work ethic, to put it plainly, is like no other work ethic this world has to offer. Second tool, second truth, energy, enthusiasm. It empowers how we work. We see our work ethic, but now we see our enthusiasm. God calls for us to work with singleness of heart and to work heartily. Oh, I love that word, heartily. What's it mean? Literally, with the soul. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind. Our work, it's with purpose, with passion, with energy, with enthusiasm. You say, oh, that's not my personality. No. The saying of God is empowered by Christ. The gospel reinvents, it reinvigorates who we are in our work and how we approach it. In fact, the word of God redefines Success, isn't that what works about? How I can be successful? Isn't that what was drilled in our minds from a young age? Be successful, be successful. What is success? It's simple with this passage. Work heartily as for the Lord, that's success. Done all that needs to be done. The world and our flesh want to define success in a number of different ways, right? It wants to tell us, this motivates you. This motivates you. What? What motivates us? Well, number one, I'll tell you what motivates us in our flesh. Make a lot of money. Am I wrong? I mean, I don't go to work to do it for free, right? Okay, our flesh is there. Make a lot of money. Number two, impact or influence a lot of people. We're in a culture of influencers, aren't we? Impact or influence a lot of people. And thank you, Mark, for reminding me of this third one. do what makes you happy. You see, this is what the world wants to motivate you with. Oh, you know, if I could just get a job where I was happier with it, then I'd work better. Oh, if I just made a little more money and got that raise, then I'd work harder. And you know what? The world wants us to do all these things, make a lot of money, impact and influence people and do what makes you happy. And in fact, preferably do them all simultaneously and do them as quick as possible, right? That's what the world wants. But the gospel, my friends, it changes the basic principles that motivate how we work. It completely redefines it. Have you considered how the Bible informs this effort? Think about it. Before, Before the gospel, you were dead. You were lost and unfit for any form of work or service. Now we're regenerate. We're alive and we're ready for every good work by the grace of God. Praise God for that. We're new creatures. We have a standing in crisis as children. We've been delivered from the domain of darkness, transferred to the kingdom of light, and we have gospel conviction that now teaches us how to work. The maid, who, when she was asked, how do you know you've really become a Christian? How do you know? She said, it's really very simple. I know I'm a Christian because I sweep under the rugs now. You see, her work has new motivation, and it reflects that work ethic. Right? That energy and enthusiasm, this is sincerity of heart, a genuine desire to serve that gladly flows from a relationship with Christ. Third truth, excellence, quality, integrity. It's the substance of our work. We have our work ethic, we have our energy, and now here we have this excellence in our work. We're exhorted in the passage to have sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Hmm, interesting word choice there, fearing the Lord. Should we be shaking in fear? Not to be afraid, but to have a reverent focus and awe of God. I do not just mean by excellence. I do not just mean our best work. But I'm talking about the quality of our work, the quality of our attitude. a gospel attitude each day that the gospel trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. I'm talking about the gospel informing how we think as we're working, where we go, and we're in a situation, and we want to complain, and we remember. God's word says do all things without grumbling or complaining and disputing. That's Philippians 2.14 if you want to take that one with you. It's a good one. Complaining, gossip, all these types of attitudes within work are not quality work, not for the Christian. We won't indulge in what Bill in the other department said or spread false information about budget cuts or a new employee. Week after week, we hear someone say with a groan. I'm sure you've heard it. Maybe even you will hear it tomorrow. Oh, it's a Monday. Ever heard that? Yeah, it's a Monday. Let's not get swept up in the current of complaining. Why would we? We're standing on the rock of Christ. We're not gonna be swept away. Can we check our hearts when we hear that statement? When we go to say that statement? I'm not saying you can't ever say that, I'm just saying let's check our hearts, right, against this truth. Work's full of difficulty, and this is the curse of sin, right? The heart, now, work is not because of sin, but hard work, hard ground, it's full of difficulty because of sin. But we approach it with joy. The task may be challenging, the coworkers, may be the most impossible people you've ever worked with. And I'm quite certain they feel the same way. You see, here's a reality that when we come into the workplace with joy, we have the privilege and opportunity to impact others in a positive way for the name of Jesus Christ. And this is so important. You may work for the worst boss you've ever had. And I've been there. I've been there before, just in case my current boss listens to this message. Not currently. But you see, Christian, we're working for God who controls all situations and circumstances for our good and his glory. We work with joy because our eyes are on Christ, not our boss, not our co-workers, not our situation. Our eyes are on Jesus. So this quality work, it looks a certain way. It looks like moving towards people with love and grace in the areas of influence that we have. no matter what they're like, no matter how long that difficulty may persist. Please hear me. God's called you to mercy and long-suffering in your work situations, unless and until He changes them. You must understand that God has put you there for His purpose, and one of those purposes may very well be to change something in you. That's part of your sanctification. So those who labor in a regular job or in some other form of work that takes up your day, underappreciated, overworked, and exhausted, the Spirit of God does indeed empower every believer to love as Christ has loved and have quality work, singleness of heart, heartily working unto the Lord, bosses, Those of you who have people under you, masters here in this text, right? Irritated, frustrated, stressed, God calls bosses to just and fair treatment. For it says, the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there's no partiality. We fear the Lord, and in fearing the Lord, recognizing him, it brings a quality to our work. We give him reverence and respect. The Word of God guides how we think, how we think, and then it guides how we live. Knowing from God's Word that we're God's chosen ones, do you remember that, just earlier? Knowing we're God's chosen ones, we're motivated to bear with one another. We're motivated to forgive one another. We're motivated to love one another. Oh, how true it is that the love of Christ motivates us. Jacob, you remember Jacob in Genesis? He served seven years, but they seemed to him but to be a few days. Why? Because of the love he had for her. Our love for Christ will make The minutes that tick by so slowly at work and the drudgery of it pass by like just a few moments because we're there serving Christ. Our thoughts are on Christ and our life reflects Christ. You're serving a Christ who loved you and loves you. Christian, you're serving a Christ who completed his perfect work on the cross for the ungodly sinner. You're serving this loving Lord No, it says in our text, that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance of your reward. What drives our quality and excellence in work? Fear of the Lord, certainly, but also knowing that we have an inheritance waiting for us. We have a reward that shapes our entire thought process here. It's really quite neat. We're not driven by our paycheck, our benefits package, our 401k savings. Many of us are doing day-to-day work that doesn't have any of those things anyway. But you do have an inheritance from the Lord, and nothing compares to this beautiful inheritance. Nothing compares to Christ. Do you ever experience the pull to do the least amount of work for the most pay? Yeah, I experience it. It might even be a part of your work culture or the people you're around. Is that temptation on your mind as you stand before your work? will let us instead throw that aside and turn our hearts to quality work for the Lord, knowing that He has an inheritance waiting for us. From the Lord, we will receive a reward far beyond what any company or boss could ever give, work for Christ. I need to point out as well, that this excellent work is mission-minded. Our entire workplace becomes our mission field, where we bring the truth of the gospel into everything we say and everything that we do. Our faith, remember, is not compartmentalized and left at church. We take it with us. Our Christian music plays. Our Christian books are proudly displayed on the desk. We even give thanks to God before a business meal, as awkward as that may be. We represent our Lord and master in the workplace. We may start a prayer meeting. We may start a Bible study. We may buy a meal for a difficult coworker to show grace. We may offer comfort and encouragement to a coworker, giving them scripture as they're dealing with a hard time or a struggle in their own life. And especially for leaders and bosses, we treat all those under our authority and under our charge with justice, with fairness, as God would have us do. We're intentional, spirit-led, and we show Christ, all of us show Christ in how we work. Seek out opportunities to plant seeds, to be a witness, to share this wonderful good news of Christ. Don't you see all those working around you, dragging, depressed, discouraged? They need to hear this good news. This wonderful news that invigorates and energizes our work. Our master's in heaven, and we do this worthwhile work unashamed of him. And I'm telling you, nothing challenges us more to walk the walk than when we're communicating and sharing this gospel message. Because all of a sudden, I can't just lose my temper in a meeting anymore, can I? because I just shared the gospel with them two days ago. How's that gonna look, right? I can't gossip over here about this person, because I was just sharing truths about Jesus not a week ago. You see, it holds us accountable and challenges us, and we need this challenge in our lives. Christians stand out different from the rest of the world. We're not looking to do the minimum. We're not looking to build our own empire. The Christian is remembering the kingdom work he's involved in and remembers the bigger picture. As an example, one construction foreman, he was on a hospital job site building the building, and he wanted to encourage all those workers. So he reminds them, gentlemen, we're not just building a building here. We're constructing a place where the sick will be healed and lives will be saved. Well, so it is for us saints. We're not just going to work here every day. You're not just doing your meaningless, unimportant tasks. You are. serving Christ and bringing light into the world. Last truth as we wrap up here, faithfulness to God in all things. Work ethic, energy, excellence, and faithfulness. Honoring Christ is our chief calling. So all those things which God calls important, we call important. Our spiritual relationship with God, our families, our church, We're present and faithful to the work, heartily, eagerly submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. It's so common to get short-sighted and only focus on what's right in front of you. I know I do it. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, there are many whom I've had the privilege of meeting whose tombstone might well bear the grim epitaph, born a man, died a doctor. The greatest danger which confronts the medical man is that he may become lost in his profession. And he was preaching at a medical conference of some type there to doctors, but I'll drop the word medical and apply it to all of us. Born a man, died a worker. because we just throw ourselves into what we do and we start to identify, not with Christ, but with what we do. Well, Galatians 2.20 says, I have been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. It's so easy to get lost in the day today. Let it drain you, let it wear you out. Have you ever felt anxious or overwhelmed with your work? Caught up with work that you have to do, the looming deadlines, The things piling up, competing priorities. Am I talking to anyone here today? Everything grabbing constantly at your mental real estate for just one moment. And you might come to the conclusion, who has time for the things of God? Well, God is pleased with our daily grind and our regular faithfulness to the work he's called you to do. He's pleased with it. Seek with singleness of heart to please your Lord and master and be faithful to him in the task at hand. But all the other noise of this world just fade into the background. Do not forget that God's faithful to his promise to conform us to the image of his son and work in us through our work. As we work, may we be encouraged by the faithfulness of God, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance of your reward. You're serving Christ. And when we view our work through the lens of faith, my, oh my, they'll transform how we approach it. It'll completely transform the way we walk into that workplace, the way we take up that next activity. We no longer work just for ourselves or for our bosses, but we work as faithful servants to the Lord Jesus Christ, and there's no better master to serve. So, in closing, remember these four truths, work ethic, energy, excellence, and faithfulness to God. Remember that everything you do is done to Christ. And more important than all of that, remember the work that Christ has done. Remember that Christ has completed the perfect work upon the cross, work you could not do. He was faithful to the sacrificial work on your behalf. Remember, he cried, it is finished. The work of redemption was completed by Jesus. God has done the work that we would not do, that we did not do, that we could not do. It tells us so in Colossians 2, 12. We're told, you were raised, you also were raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised Christ from the dead. I'm so thankful for the way God works in our lives. The Spirit of God is working in us and through us, Christian, in our work and in our lives. So saints, remember this just as the scripture tells us very clearly in verse 24, you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I do pray that these truths would be helpful and meaningful to each of your children here today, that they would be internalized and received, not as words of a man, Your words, Lord. Would you give us eyes to see that we are working for you, Lord? Would you open our eyes to it? Would you encourage our hearts with the reality, Lord? Would you help us to keep our eyes upon Christ and him crucified? Lord, I just thank you for your grace. presented in this passage, and just pray that you would help us to be faithful to you. Would you forgive us when we fail? And Lord, would you keep us ever set upon your promises? It's in Christ's name we pray.