The Upper Room 25th April 2022 Daily Devotional | Working to Honor God

TODAY’S READING
Colossians 3:18-25

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Today I will honor God in whatever I do.

PRAYER FOCUS
Farmers

KEY VERSE: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. – Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

The Upper Room 25th April 2022 Daily Devotional MESSAGE

When I was 13, I went to live with my aunt and uncle on their farm. One of my daily tasks was to strap a long burlap sack across my body and pick corn until the sack was full and heavy. Then while Aunt Elsie made supper, I sat on a stool in the kitchen, shucking and dividing the corn — some for the pigs, some for us, and some to give away. After sorting, I hauled the pigs’ corn out and threw it over the fence to them. I would much rather have been with my friends — swimming, going to the movies, having fun.

Every evening before bedtime, Aunt Elsie read the Bible out loud. One evening as she read Colossians 3, the words in today’s quoted verse sank in. I went to bed ashamed for resenting the farm work. My relatives were generous and loving. They took me in without knowing me well. They didn’t order me to do chores; they asked. They honored the Lord with their work. I had begun helping them out of boredom but ended up helping out of love. Instead of resenting the chores, I grew to love both the work and the animals.

I will never forget the peace and joy I experienced on that farm. My aunt and uncle left me with a gentle reminder that we honor God by dedicating whatever work we do to the Lord.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for giving us work and a purpose. Help us to do whatever you set before us with the peace and joy that only honoring you can bring. Amen.

The Upper Room 25th April 2022 Daily Devotional Message. The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together. Read More