It’s logical for us to assume that by the time Paul visited and wrote to the church at Corinth, they would be spiritually mature, doing the Lord’s work with joy, and operating in love toward all people. However, in the first fifteen chapters of 1 Corinthians, we find that the people there still had much to learn in their growing faith. Paul needed to go back to basics, reteach the tent-poles of faith, and walk them through the foundational steps of being a follower of Jesus again. In today’s reading, Paul emphasized a vital practice that we can still stray from now: serving one another in love.
If we are honest, there are times in our lives when we need to preach the gospel and its truths to ourselves again, just as Paul did for the Corinthians. Instead of doing the Lord’s work of serving our neighbors in love, we work out of duty, striving, or obligation. Life and its weight drag us down, the world distracts us, and our self-centeredness creeps in. We may labor for selfish reasons or with a bitter heart. God calls us to serve our brothers and sisters in love, but are we able to love well in our own strength?
Centuries earlier, another man was asked to do the Lord’s work, and it was Moses who shared some wisdom with him. Joshua faced a hard work order, but it was Moses who reminded him who strength and courage comes from (Deuteronomy 31:6–8). This is an encouragement that the work commanded by God wasn’t all up to Joshua—God’s presence was with him, empowering and equipping him. And just as Moses encouraged Joshua to rely on God in a hard calling, God sent Paul to correct and care for the Corinthian church as they strayed from His command. The Corinthian church couldn’t recalibrate their faith and operate in love without God’s influence and leading. Two thousand years later, we are given the same command to do the Lord’s work in love, and we can receive the same wisdom: we need Him to do it.
It is God, not our own will or might, who empowers us to serve others selflessly, love our neighbor, and care for the field we’ve been given. When we abide in Christ, love will overflow from us into the work of our hands as commanded to us (1Thessalonians 4:9–12).
Don’t miss this truth: we operate in love when we abide in Christ. We can love and serve those around us only when tethered to Christ. We can’t help but produce fruit when we are connected to the true vine. Let’s trade our striving for His strength and our grumbling for gratefulness to Him. Doing all things in love means we do all things with Christ.
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65 thoughts on "The Lord’s Work"
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This came at just the right time. I will be hosting my in laws this weekend and having a small gathering to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. I have been complaining to myself about all the things I need to do to get ready for these events , instead of being excites about the ways I get to serve my family. I pray that the Lord would fill me with a love for my family that flows out in the way I serve them.
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I’m playing catch up tonight. The devotional is so good today. As always, but some hit me more than others. Laura Dianne thank you for sharing from HRT.
Playing catch-up as well and I agree. This one hit me more deeply in my heart!
Happy Tuesday!! Praying for you all.
@Marina S. – praise God for your mom’s good report – NO CANCER!!
Thank you so much for your love and prayers, Sharon! So grateful to God for answering us with no cancer.
I am praying for your husband, too. Praying that they not find any signs of cancer in his biopsy. I know what you are walking through. I had my mom and now my brother. Waiting for his results. Thankfully, we have a Father who knows exactly what we need.
HALLELUJAH!
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I love how Paul just shoots off bullet lists! Especially in 1 Corinthians 16:13…1)be on guard 2)stand firm 3)be of courage 4)be strong 5)do everything in love. And there you have it -boom! And then in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, he does it again – 1)lead a quiet life 2)mind your own business (ouch!) 3)work with your hands – why? So our daily lives will be a living testimony to those around us.
It’s quite a list to work on, but in being “tethered” to Christ, as Sarah mentioned – we can do it!
Have a wonderful and blessed day my dear sisters – remembering you all in prayer! ❤️
LOVED this! Hit home! “we operate in love when we abide in Christ.” “Let’s trade our striving or HIS strength and our (MY) grumbling for HIS gratefulness to HIM! I love how our God works! Needed to hear this! JUST before reading the devo part, my mom came to mind about “how-can-I better-serve-her” even when its hard! I’ve mentioned before she’s very loving and caring, there are just times when its difficult as a GROWN adult (late 50’s) and still be nagged. I take-a-deep breath. Happy TUESDAY sweet She’s. Waiting for my sweet friend to go on our long walk! We slept in a little as its not as hot today, a nice little break from the heat!
“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love.” That just about sums it all up right? Be alert- do not be preoccupied with sin/ yourself or anything other than God really. Stand firm in the faith- put your trust in the Lord. Be courageous- again trust in the Lord and STEP out in the name of the Lord. Be strong- my strength comes from the Lord. Do everything in love- love because He loved first!!! Happy Tuesday She’s! Sending you all ☮️❤️ and lifting up your prayers!
I love how the lesson said trade our striving for His strength and our grumbling for gratefulness to Him. Doing all things in love means doing all things with Him!
It is when we try to do it on our own, we become frustrated, weary, and discouraged. We aren’t meant to do this alone, we need Jesus!
This was a reminder to me in my recovery of my shoulder surgery. I have become discouraged and frustrated. Thinking I should be farther along but God continually reminds me of the verses in Deuteronomy. He gave me the verses before I had the surgery or knew I would need it. He has reminded me that I can’t do this on my own, I need Him. I do the physical therapy but He brings about the healing. He has purpose in the process and I need to trust and rest in Him! This is so true for all of our life; trust him because there is purpose in the process!
Praying for all of you!
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Let me just encourage you Cheryl and tell you that I have found through my clients that the shoulder is the hardest of all the joints to rehab and get full ability back! It’s a tough recovery! So I’m sure you are right on track, just use it as an excuse to LET people do things for you and help!! Once it heals you will be better than before for sure!!
Oh my goodness, Yes! This hit home today!
Without Jesus I am such a mess. So thankful I’m tethered to the True Vine.
Stay cool in this heat wave, sisters. ❤️
Right?! Agree! Love ya!
“Be strong and courageous; …
The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
The Lord is right there IN SERVICE with us IF we, as SARAH WOOD said in the last paragraph, are “tethered” to Him.
SARAH also said (that last paragraph, again ❤)
“… we operate in love when we abide in Christ. We can love and serve those around us only when tethered to Christ. We can’t help but produce fruit when we are connected to the true vine.”
SEARCHING, JM, COLLEEN, and other SHES who face heavy schedules and stress each day – praying God will show you a way to let His love shine through you in service to others. I don’t face many demands in my day, but I am claiming that prayer for service in my home- service that often happens ‘because I have no choice’ rather than out of fruitful love. I have been convicted about that before and this devo does it again. Prayers and hugs!
This devotional just hit me so hard today. I work in a job where I serve others. I am so burnt out most days that I don’t do it with love though. I do it with grumbling, annoyance, irritation, and judgement. I am thankful for the job I have! I do not want to be this way, but I don’t know how to come back from it. I pray to God to help me with these feelings. I just don’t know how to move forward in Gods love and be better.
Ha, I relate to that in my old job! I was a fitness trainer with my own studio (meaning I couldn’t pick my own clients, I had everyone and personality that came through my doors!) for years…and I literally got so tired and frustrated with people that I couldn’t wait to “retire.” I had gotten where I hated working with people because of their grumbling and complaining that I started grumbling and complaining against them all the time! I didn’t even want to be around people anymore! That is not a good place to be though, for it hardens us. I pray that you will be able to pray on this and God will flood you with a renewing! I love people again, lol, so I know it’s possible with His help! Staying in his word and prayer!
A very long time ago I was a bank teller. I remember the art kf serving people. I can only recommend putting yourself in your client’s shoes and respond to them the way you like to be treated. It sounds so elementary, but that’s what came to mind as I read your comment. I pray God shows you a way for your love to shine through so you can in turn feel the joy of serving. ❤
Praying for you J M. Sometimes it helps me to imagine Jesus dealing with difficult people and situations. How would He handle it, what would He say? Try to see them through His eyes, and remembering always – they are sinners, lost without Christ, influenced by Satan.
May God give you a heart of love for them and to see them as truly in need of a Savior.
It’s hard to do it in our own strength, but with God – everything is possible. ❤️
Oh yes, that is good to remember! If they are not of God…what do we expect! I need to think of this myself! Thanks Sharon!
Oh JM, I feel the same way many days. And when asked to do more, I say yes and then grumble later. Praying for you and I both to serve in love and to see God with us in this work. Love to you.
J M, you are in my prayers. I can probably understand a fraction of what you go through and how you feel as I also have a similar, seemingly life-sucking job of serving others. I pray for your heart. I pray that God would soften it and remind you why He has you there. I pray He would continue to strengthen you to endure the hardship and shine His light and love in spite of it.
Thank y’all for your helpful and encouraging responses! It really means alot!
Be Strong & Courageous! One of my favorite phrases to repeat from the great Bible! But not in your own strength…Only through God’s help! We are told so much in our society to be strong..be brave..be kind…be your true self! But all that is fruitless! WE want to be known all the qualities THROUGH our God, not through our own grit! I above everything want people to know I’m a Jesus Freak more than just a good person! I’m not going down without people connecting my love for Jesus! I too often have wondered if some of my loved ones of friends even loved Jesus? Yes, they were good people perhaps, but I wondered if they loved Jesus! I want and need people to know that I was Strong and Courageous to serve FOR God, to show love to everyone THROUGH God, to be bold and fearless WITH God! I want to always start my day connected to the vine, and never depart from his ways! I want to TRUST in every situation and through the hard and trials of life! I want to obey when the world goes upside down and promotes sin, may I cling to his one and only truth!
May I use my money wisely to do for those in need. Think on it at the beginning of each week!
We are reading 1 Peter in my chronic pain group..and the part where we do everything in love! And that we live in peace with the brethren! It goes so well with Paul’s letter to Corinth! I really like the point that every Christian should be strong in their hope in Christ and be ready to give a reasoned defense for it, especially in hopeless situations! That makes our testimonies even stronger! Always presenting to the unsaved an account of WHAT we believe and WHY we believe in a loving matter! To only FEAR displeasing Him rather than fearing situations and other people!
Paul is back to talking about love. It’s big. It’s important. It’s what the Gospel is all about. Like Tina, that last paragraph by Sarah Wood – so good! If you get a chance, hop over to HRT. This is how it begins: One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from The Four Loves by CS Lewis. It reads: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
Whoa – that right there! It’s so true, isn’t it? I am having some back and forth with my son right now. He used to be the most loving and empathetic guy. But since he has turned from his faith, he has become more self-centered and selfish. I was thinking about that connection this week, about how being a Christ-follower SHOULD make us more loving, more other-centered, not self-focused. But no one says it better than Paul (and CS Lewis does a pretty good job too, I might add!)
Laura Dianne–thank you for sharing the Lewis quote! Such a good connection to today’s message about love…and so very true. It’s a good reminder that loving makes us vulnerable to others but stronger in the Lord.
I work in a very stressful, anxiety-inducing environment. Lately, I want to quit, but when I read these verses today, I’m starting to wonder if my feelings are justified.
I know that Paul is talking about the work of spreading the gospel, showing love, and being diligent with the gifts that we’ve been given, and at first glance, that doesn’t quite seem to be the same as what I’m doing, but in a lot of ways, it is.
I am asked to show love even when it doesn’t make sense.
I am asked to remain calm, at peace, and in harmony with those around me even though my body screams to do the opposite.
EVERYTHING we do is for him. I know that deep within me, but I’m having trouble believing it lately. Please pray for my heart as I pray for yours, dear friend.
Thank you, God, for Your Word that reopens my eyes to the truth. Thank you, God, for this work you have given me, even though it can be so hard as it pushes me to my limits. I love you, Lord, and I am going to trust you. Even though I feel the pressure on all sides, remind me that You are by my side in the midst of all of it, shielding and protecting me from all the enemy has planned for evil. God, I know You are faithful, and You will turn this around or show me how to exit gracefully.
I love you, Lord, and I am going to trust you. In Jesus’s name, I pray, amen.
Beautiful thoughts and prayer, Colleen. God’s Word can really come alive in stressful situations. Praying along with you that your circumstances will spur you on to show Jesus’ sacrificial love to those you work with. Sacrificial love is SO HARD and not a natural instinct for us earthly folk. May God strengthen you as you strive to draw closer to Him and walk in His ways. Your words this morning really inspired me.
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Praying God’s peace upon your heart and that He will take away all your anxiety (even if the thing causing it doesn’t go away). Praying also that you hear His voice in all of this and follow His lead.❤️
Thank you for sharing your prayer, Colleen, your words really touched me. Praying that God would restore your heart with His peace and strength during this season and that you’d hear and feel Him guiding your steps.
Thank you, CHRISTY, for your prayers. I am so grateful and blessed that God used my broken heart to encourage yours.
This reminder has come right when I needed it. The picture of being tethered to Christ is powerful!
Glad to be back with my sisters here! Working to catch up this week.
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My life feels nearly nonstop (like many/most of us) with an endless to-do list. I am diligently trying to complete the tasks although not always in love. Out of obligation, yes. Out of duty, yes. Bitter heart … not at that point but definitely resentful of the expectations.
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Praying for the requests of:
MARINA S – brother’s scan, thankful for mother’s good results)
ALEIDA POLANCO – Victor, and your time with him this week. Praying along with our other sisters that as you talk with him about your love for him and a path toward a job, a place to live and freedom from the addictions, that he would be drawn to the truth and hope that Christ offers. Praying for the relationship between him and your husband.
ADRIENNE – guidance in getting the answers you need about your health
TERESA DONLEY- that you feel the Lord surrounding you with His love (so much more powerful than the love your sisters here are trying to surround you with), lifting your spirits high.
MERCY ❤️ your eyes! For the right current treatment and long term plan for healthy eyes, and speedy restoration of sight.
LAURA DIANNE, TAMI and others – your (mine too) loved ones that need the Lord in their lives.
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – Jeff’s biopsy results.
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MICHELLE P – beautiful prayer Saturday, thank you
CEE GEE – great shares! ❤️
❤ So glad to see you back! Praying for your many demands! Love you, sister!
Thank you for lifting up my son in your prayers and continuing to pray for all of us! I am late packing and feeling anxious about this week. However I know the Lord will go before us❤️❤️
Amen
Grateful for fresh teaching !! Renewed
I would say the ONLY thing we do well in our own strength is sin.
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I love how Paul gives instructions about how to give outside of the tithe. We should plan for giving in our budgets, whether having a goal in mind or setting funds aside so it is there when the need arises, it should be a part of our weekly routine.
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MARINA S. – agreeing in prayer for good test results for your brother.
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SHARON JERSEY GIRL – prayers for you and Jeff as you wait for results from PET scan.
Yes, KELLY (NEO) – planning and preparing ahead of the needs to give outside of the tithe. A good reminder that the first fruits of our work (tithe) belong to and should given to the Lord, not whatever we can scrape together on the last line of our budget.
Only thing we do well in our own strength is sin!!! Thank you for this word @KellyNEO!!!
Ain’t that (sadly) the truth, Allison!
Yes, and Amen to setting aside weekly giving…even if you think you can’t afford it! I have found in my own life, when we gave even when we thought we didn’t have it – God always provided our needs!
Praise God that Liam came home!
Thank you for your continued prayers for Jeff.
Thank you, SARAH WOOD ❤️
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Deuteronomy 4:37 CSB
“Because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by his presence and great power,”
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May we remember God’s love for us. May we joyfully serve our God and others, strengthened by His presence and great power.
Happy to see you here…I was going to ask in my post if you were still with us. :-)
I have been missing you, too! Good to “see” you this morning!! ❤️
Glad you are here, Julia! ❤
Hi, Julia! ❤️
Don’t miss this truth: we operate in love when we abide in Christ. We can love and serve those around us only when tethered to Christ. We can’t help but produce fruit when we are connected to the true vine. Let’s trade our striving for His strength and our grumbling for gratefulness to Him. Doing all things in love means we do all things with Christ.
What beautifully written truth. AMEN..
Thank you SARAH WOOD.♥️
As I read the last word, I felt a stirring to sing the old song.. I need Thee Every hour..
I need Thee every hour Most Gracious Lord. No tender voice like Thine Can peace afford..
I need Thee every hour, Stay Thou near by; Temptations lose their power When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, Lord, in pain and in joy; Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour, Teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises In me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, Most Holy One; Oh make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!
I need Thee every hour, Most Holy Gracious, Wonderful, Loving, Ever-present, Hope-filling, Strength- giving, Faithful God, I need Thee, Oh I need Thee; every minute, every hour I need Thee; Bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee!
BUT GOD..
Apart from Him, I might get it right, WITH Him, I am SURE to love as He has loved and continues to love me..
AMEN.
Happy Tuesday! Wrapped in love and prayers covered in hugs for you.♥️
Amen, TINA ❤️ I need Him every minute of every hour of every day.
Yes Tina, I was going to comment on Sarah’s last paragraph. That is definitely the way to end a devotional on taking care of each other. It is through God we have the strength, desire and love to care for others. I know that has been a prayer I’ve been going to when I am going to care/interact with my grandma. She has not been the most kind or easy person in the last few months so being tethered to Christ will help me to operate in love.
Love that song! We do need Christ every hour!
Now that hymn is stuck in my head. Thank you so much! (There are worse things that get stuck in our head, right?! Insert winky emoji.)
Tina, I say those words, “ I need Thee every hour,” many times a day!!
Good Morning Shes
“Doing all things in love means we do all things with Christ.”
That’s the way to start a new day!
Amen and Amen!!❣️
Amen! <3 Thank you, GWINETH52!
Well, one advantage of insomnia… I am able to do today’s reading in total peace & quiet. Heeheehee!
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“ God calls us to serve our brothers and sisters in love, but are we able to love well in our own strength? ”
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Ummmm… no!
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Serve in love with His strength today, sweet She’s!
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I giggled as I read this, ADRIENNE, as I have come back to the comments section this evening as I cannot sleep, and I want to be vigilant in prayer for all of our Shes represented here. I am so glad God blessed you with some extra quiet time. LOL