NIV 365-Day Devotional Plan (2017)Sample

Perseverance

Whether we are in a toxic work environment or perform a job that seems boring and monotonous, many of us wonder at times how long we’ll be able to last in our current job. Work is often toilsome and frustrating, but we are called to persevere—to be faithful, working with all our heart, “as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).

Although we are not always called to remain on our current path, there are times when God calls us to persevere in work that we would rather not continue. God’s call for us to remain faithful arises out of the larger work of renewal that he’s performing in every sector of our world. Our willingness to persevere arises out of the knowledge that God wants to transform us and our workplaces, and that he invites us to participate in his work. The doctrine of perseverance highlights the grace and strength we have in Christ, so that we can be faithful in our calling.

Connecting

In today’s world, it can be tempting to float from one job to the next, especially when we begin to encounter aspects of our work that seem demoralizing or dehumanizing. Yet, as Christians, our calling is shaped by God and not just by our desires. God calls us to enter into the brokenness around us so that we can participate in his renewal of all things. When we persevere, we acknowledge the sufficiency of God’s grace to help us complete the tasks he has given us, which is a daily reality. This steadfast grace helps us to see the value in remaining in our present work, if indeed it is God’s desire for us to remain in that work.

Most often we see only in retrospect God’s wisdom in directing our paths. While it can be very difficult to see this reason in the moment, we can be confident that God wants to use us to make known his love and redemptive purposes to all those around us. And the joy that comes with this knowledge helps us to endure when God wants us to endure.

Taken from NIV Faith & Work Bible