Fuller

a black and white image of a shepherd tending to sheep

Experiencing God in Your Work

One night, some shepherds outside of Bethlehem found their routine of careful watching interrupted by a most astounding sight. A glorious angel appeared to the shepherds, scaring them half to death. But the angel brought good news: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Then, the angel invited the shepherds to go to the baby “wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). If this were not enough, after that an army of angels appeared, offering glory to God and peace on earth. Talk about experiencing God at work!

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a room full of brightly shinning lights hanging from the ceiling

The Incarnation and Your Daily Work

The Incarnation made it possible for the divine Son to work in an ordinary way. Now, for sure, Jesus’s work as Messiah was unique. He alone did the crucial work of dying for our sins, something that was made possible by his Incarnation. But we would do well to remember that Jesus spent most of his adult life doing the work of a craftsman or carpenter. He worked in and, in all likelihood, eventually managed his earthly father’s small business. The fact that the Incarnate Word of God invested years in ordinary work shows us beyond a shadow of doubt just how much God values this kind of work, the work we do in this world.

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a manger with a crown inside

A Prayer for Christmas Day

Jesus Christ is born! Hallelujah! We give you thanks, O God, for the birth of our Savior!

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statues of mary, joseph, and baby jesus with a starry background

Joseph’s Work and Your Work

As I think about Joseph’s work in this story, I’m reminded of how much of our work in life gets little attention, little fanfare. Like Joseph, we don’t show up in the story as it’s usually told. I’m not complaining about this, mind you. But I am encouraged to be faithful in the work God has called me to do whether or not anybody notices. The work itself has value. The work itself contributes to God’s work in the world. Moreover, even if nobody appreciates my behind-the-scenes efforts, God sees my work and is honored by my faithfulness. The same is true for you in the “Joseph work” of your life.

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a shadowy image of a pregnant woman reclining

Mary’s Work and Your Work

Sometimes when we speak of work, we think only of paid work. But some of the hardest and most rewarding work in life does not receive monetary compensation. Yet “unpaid” work is genuine work. Remember that God created human beings to work, to “be fruitful and multiply”—which most literally refers to the work of bearing and raising children. Our fruitfulness includes much more, to be sure. But bringing children into the world and nurturing them is one crucial element of human work. It’s the work of mothers, centrally, but also of all who join with mothers to care for, teach, disciple, and love children.

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White votive candle on snow

Witnessing the Glory of God, Part 2

When we consider our desires for the quality of living we will experience at any age—but particularly in what Mark Roberts, our executive director here at the De Pree Center, calls the “Third Third” of life—being mobile, in our own homes, with ability to care for ourselves, still having a zeal for life itself, and the capacity to travel is what we millennials call #goals.

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A little boy in bed reading the bible

Witnessing the Glory of God, Part 1

We are four days away from celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The young among us are bursting with inquiry about what gifts this Christmas will bring. Those of us who head households are plowing through to-do lists—insuring that every linen, fork, plate, candle, stocking stuffer, tape roll, butter knife, short rib, string bean, macaroni noodle and so forth are in their proper place and readily accessible for the preparation of the festivities.

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A hand reaching into a distant sunlight

An Advent Prayer of Confident Hope

Your hope in God is not wishful thinking but wise confidence because God’s love never fails.

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black and white image of groups of people walking in the street

Confronting Slavery Today

I believe that we, as Christians, are called to confront the evil of slavery until it exists no longer in our world. If we live in certain parts of the world, it’s easy to assume that slavery is a thing of the past. Yet for millions of people across the globe today, even the Western world, it is a present reality.

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A dollar bill and a change spread out on a table

A Challenging Exhortation for Bosses

This perspective does more than radically altering the relationship between slaves and masters in the first-century Roman world. It also challenges us to rethink and restructure workplace relationships in our own day. Those of us who are bosses should wisely exercise the authority entrusted to us. But we do so aware of the fact that we have a heavenly Boss, that we are accountable to him just as our reports are accountable to him. We are to treat those who work for us with the utmost respect and honor, not lording our authority over them, but rather, serving them in the way Christ has served us (Mark 10:42-45). As a boss, I’m not suggesting this is always easy. But I am saying that we need to see our earthly roles in light of a greater, heavenly reality. When this happens, how we think about our work and how we work will change dramatically.

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Black and white image of hay stacks

God Will Reward You for Your Work

When we imagine the rewards associated with work, we naturally think of things like pay, a sense of accomplishment, the company of colleagues, the opportunity to create, the joy of serving others, and perhaps a way to contribute to the common good. We may also think of our work as a way to honor God, who created us in his own image as workers.

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two green sprouts growing up out of the ground

Serving the Lord in Your Daily Work

If you work for a company, school, or non-profit, you are also serving the Lord through your daily work. If you own your own business, you are also serving the One who “owns” you through his death and resurrection. If you work without compensation, caring for your family or volunteering, you are also serving the Lord. As long as your work is not evil—like stealing, for example—what you do each day is for the Lord, for his purposes, honor, and glory. This can make all the difference in the world when it comes to how we think about and function in our daily work.

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A gift wrapped with words of Joy.

Joy Rooted in Christ

Joy is not so much meant for the good times as it is for the tumultuous times. This genuine joy does not deny the existence of pain, heartache, and loss, but it also acknowledges the strength of our God to heal, mend, and restore. Joy must be engaged and actively adopted. The season of Advent is about the arrival of the Savior and the joy he brings to the nations in the midst of our darkest hours.

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Small white nativity scene in front of a candle

Do Not Be Afraid

The ambiguity of life is inevitable. We face circumstances and events in our day to day lives that feel like giant mountains, road blocks, and dead ends. Bad things happen to us, our families, and the people we love. Maybe it is a disappointing diagnosis, a rejection, or the end of a job. When bad things happen, we often feel like we have no agency or choice about the matter.

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Black and white image of a person running

Prayers for Workers: Sharing Your Longings with God

I long for work that matters. Not that everything I do has to save the world. But I want, in some small way, to make a difference in the lives of others.

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