The Work God Gave You to Do
Scripture
“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4 KJV
Devotion
Before Jesus went to the cross, He spoke a powerful sentence in prayer to the Father. He said that He had finished the work the Father gave Him to do. Jesus understood something important about life. Every person is given a portion of work by God. It may not always look dramatic or extraordinary. Sometimes it looks like loving the people in your life well. Sometimes it looks like walking in obedience when no one else is watching. Sometimes it looks like faithfully serving where God has placed you. The work God gives each person is not identical, but it is meaningful. In the parables Jesus told about readiness, the faithful servant was not praised because he predicted the master’s return. He was praised because he continued doing the work he had been given. Faithful waiting does not mean doing nothing. It means continuing the work God has placed before you. When Christ returns, the question will not be how famous or impressive our work looked to the world. The question will be whether we were faithful with what God placed in our hands. A life that continues doing the work God gave it to do is a life that stays ready.
Reflection
What responsibilities or opportunities has God placed in your life right now? How can you approach those responsibilities with faithfulness while waiting for Christ’s return?
Extended Insight
In John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father shortly before His crucifixion. In this prayer He reflected on the mission He had been given and declared that He had completed the work the Father entrusted to Him. While the work of Christ was unique, the principle applies to every believer. God entrusts each person with opportunities, relationships, and responsibilities that form part of their calling. The parables of Jesus emphasize faithfulness in these assignments. The servant who remains faithful with what he has been given demonstrates readiness for the master’s return. The Christian life involves faithfully carrying out the work God has entrusted to us until Christ comes again.
Prayer
Father, help me remain faithful with the work You have placed before me. Teach me to serve You with obedience and humility in the responsibilities of my daily life. Give me strength to continue doing what You have called me to do while I wait for the return of Christ. May my life bring honor to You through faithful service. Amen.