A Prayer about Serving Jesus with All Our Hearts
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. Col. 3:23-24
Dear Lord Jesus, we begin our day profoundly grateful for your relentless, never-ceasing work in our hearts. You never sleep, you never slumber. You don’t just give us sleep, but you give to us in our sleep (Psalm 127:2). Because of what you’ve already accomplished for us, one Day we’ll be as lovely and as loving as you—free of all sin, fully alive, whole and complete forever!
Oh, the encouragement this gives us—the invigorating, liberating, consecrating hope this generates deep within our hearts. It’s why this admonition from Paul feels more like a kiss than a kick today. Because of your finished work on the cross, our labors have become labors of love, our works are works of faith and our sacrifices are sacrifices of praise. You change everything, Jesus, everything.
We want to serve you willingly because you first served us gladly by your life, death and resurrection. No one will ever out-serve you, Jesus. Even from heaven you continue to serve us, as advocate and intercessor. Even in our life in the new heaven and new earth you will serve us, and lead us to springs of living water (Rev. 7:17). What a wonderful merciful Savior you are.
Lord Jesus, continue to free us from doing anything for the approval of people, or out of fear of people, or to gain power over people. Forgive us when we work for appreciation, recognition or congratulation. It’s you we serve, not mere men. Free us for doing all things as unto you: loving our family and friends as unto you; serving in your church and kingdom as unto you; engaging in our vocations as unto you; eating and drinking as unto you (1 Cor. 10:31)… doing all things as unto you, for your praise and glory.
How we praise you, Jesus, that the gospel is the end of any sense of a wage-earning relationship with God. We could never earn, merit or deserve what you alone can give us. We’ll receive an inheritance only because of your work, not ours. And should we receive any rewards or crowns, they will be thrown at your feet (Rev. 4:10), giving credit where credit is due. So very Amen we pray, in your quintessentially glorious name.
