Day 1: Love

Day 2: Cultural Mandate

Day 3: Image of God

Day 4: Glorious

Day 5: Justification

Day 6: Perseverance

Day 7: Scripture

Day 1 Love

To know God is to know love, and to continually experience this love is

to have renewed motivations, even for work. As we grasp the depth of

God’s love for us, we begin to see every part of our lives being sustained

and directed by that love. Over time this perspective affects every part of

our lives. And because we spend so much of our lives engaged in it, one of

our greatest needs is to have God’s love transform the way we work.

Day 1 Love

When we begin to experience God and his love, our whole being—heart, mind, soul

and strength—is engaged, and this experience cannot help but change the way we

approach work. It affects our motivations, our relationships and the very work that we do. We

see ourselves working for God out of gratitude for what he has done for us, and our diligence

at work reflects that gratitude.

As we consider the transformative power of God’s love, the question we must always ask

ourselves is this: “Have we come to know the true living God, or are we more occupied with

a projection of God informed by our own intellect, desires or experiences?” Only when we

encounter this loving God are we truly changed at the very core of our being.

Day 1 Love

ConnectingGod speaks into our lives, and his voice communicates a profound love that changes us in

ways both big and small. His love is not an abstract sentiment, but is specific. He didn’t love

humanity in some obscure way. No, he sent his Son to live as a Jewish man, die on a Roman

cross and rise again so that we could be saved and know him.

One of the most powerful expressions of God’s love in us is in the words we say to our

coworkers. Most of us have opportunities to give feedback. Yet, sometimes we shy away from

giving positive feedback, in fear of appearing weak or sappy, or we give it in such a way that

tears people down. When the love of God is at work in us to transform the way we see others

and the importance of our work, even seemingly insignificant feedback can create the kind of

change that brings life and health to an individual as well as an organization.

Day 1 Love

Day 2 Cultural Mandate

After God created humanity, he gave them a series of commands: be

fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it and have dominion over

other living things. This call to cultivate the world and exercise dominion is

often called the cultural mandate. As God’s image bearers, our vocation is

to reflect his nature— as modeled for us in his work of creating— by bringing

increased order, structure, vibrancy and flourishing to this world that’s so full

of potential. God wants us to steward what he has lovingly given to us as a

gift, to responsibly harness nature’s power and innovate for his glory and

the good of all creation.

Day 2 Cultural Mandate

When we read that God rested on the seventh day, we shouldn’t take this to mean that

creation was entirely finished or no longer in need of development. Rather, he made

humans in his image to continue his work and bring creation to its God-given potential.

This mandate is not reserved for “elites”— politicians, pastors, entrepreneurs and so on.

No, we all—no matter our rank, ethnicity, age or vocation—are called to continue God’s work

in bringing order and vibrancy to our world. God has entrusted humans with the inordinate

privilege of continuing his work of creation “to be God’s helper in executing to the end the

blueprint for his masterpiece.”

Day 2 Cultural Mandate

ConnectingThis cultural mandate gives our work incredible significance, since it is meant to be an extension

of God’s work in creation. Still, many of us do not sense that the work we perform each day has a

significant meaning or purpose. Some of us even see work as torment and a curse, an obstacle

to what’s really important: whether it be friends, family, hobbies—you name it. But the Bible says

that work is good, and the cultural mandate reminds us that the work we participate in points to

something far greater than ourselves, even if we can’t see the bigger picture. Sure, work is tainted

now because of the fall, and we are incredibly limited. But as God’s image bearers, we work to

contribute to human flourishing and the development of the earth.

How does our work bring order and flourishing to your company or community? How does it

contribute to the common good, the well-being of others and the improvement of the world?

Day 2 Cultural Mandate

Day 3 Image of God

The Bible has a lot to say about humanity. It tells us we were made

male and female (Genesis 1:27), that we are “fearfully and wonderfully

made” (Psalm 139:14), are frail (see Psalm 103:14–16), that we are sinful (Psalm

143:2)—the list goes on. Perhaps the most profound thing it says about

humanity is that we all have been given the unfathomable honor of bearing

the image of God (imago dei). When we view another human being, we

see God reflected in them. Even after the fall, despite the sin that resides

in all people, humans continue to bear God’s image (see Genesis 9:6). And

Christ—the perfect image of God (see Colossians 1:15)—came to redeem us

so that we might reflect in greater fullness God’s glory.

Day 3 Image of God

As divine image bearers, we have a deep sense of purpose in this world: we are called to

reflect God’s character and continue his work. This also shapes how we view and treat

others. Each person—whether a stranger, neighbor or co-worker—must be given the dignity,

respect and love due them as God’s image bearer.

Humans not only reflect God but also represent him. Ancient rulers often erected images of

themselves in various parts of their realms, to represent their authority to their subordinates.

We were created in God’s image so we could represent him here on earth, much like an

ambassador represents a foreign country.

Day 3 Image of God

ConnectingWhile we all were created to mirror God, not all of us represent God well. In fact, we all do it

imperfectly. This is an important distinction that helps us in two ways. First, it helps us understand

how we should view all people—as divine image bearers, loved by God. Second, it highlights the

challenge we have of representing God in the world.

When you think of your coworkers, do you see them as people created in the divine image—

worthy of dignity and worth that this reality brings with it? Or do you see them as merely a

pathway to your own personal gain, even sometimes treating them as sub- human? And how

does the truth of the gospel and the grace of God help you better represent God to those with

whom you interact each day?

Day 3 Image of God

Day 4 Glorious

A central theme in Scripture is the glory of God. Yet to many of us, God’s

glory seems like an abstract concept. What is it exactly? When people

conceive of God’s glory, they often think of ethereal or immaterial realities,

not physical things we experience in the world every day.

Isaiah, however, tells us that God’s glory can be seen in creation. As Isaiah is

in awe of God in heaven, the seraphim are in awe of God’s glory displayed

on earth: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his

glory,” they cry.

Day 4 Glorious

God didn’t want to be known only by himself. He wanted others to experience his

goodness. But since God chose to create us as physical beings, he also elected to

express physically to us his invisible qualities. Thus, God created a world in which we can see

his glory expressed in all the beautiful things he has made—trees, flowers, mountains, oceans,

animals, everything. God’s glory, therefore, is something that we experience tangibly through

our senses and is meant to leave us in awe of who he is. And when we behold God’s glory

and recognize him for who he is, we can’t help but worship him—just as Isaiah did.

But that’s not the whole picture. Just as God’s creative work reveals who he is, so our work

is a tangible expression of our identity. Because we have been created in God’s image, we

reflect who we are in the work we do. And ultimately our work is meant to reflect God’s glory

as we participate in his glorious work. He created us not only so that we would know him in all

his splendor, but also so that we would reflect his character to the world around us.

Day 4 Glorious

ConnectingMost of us don’t naturally sense that our work is glorious. If we’re honest, we probably think our

ordinary jobs have little lasting value. But a rich understanding of how God’s glory is reflected in

creation tells us that even the most commonplace jobs have incredible value. Just as a common

flower, such as a lily, can reflect God’s beauty, so can a common job, such as a house painter

How does your work communicate who you are as God’s image bearer? How might your work

communicate God’s glory in the world?

Day 4 Glorious

Day 5 Justification

W e live in a culture that thinks hard work gets us what we want or what

we think we deserve. This is especially true in the workplace. If we

work hard enough, we get a raise, bonus, or promotion. And if something

goes wrong, we can usually work hard enough to make amends. We live in

a meritocratic culture.

But God’s kingdom functions differently. He has given us something we

don’t deserve: right status before him.

Day 5 Justification

The doctrine of justification tells us that we are considered righteous before God, not by our

obedience to the law—for no one can fulfill the law’s requirements—but because of the perfect

work of Christ. He alone lived perfectly according to the law and fulfilled it. Because of Christ’s

work, God no longer sees us as sinful or guilty. He sees us as righteous and holy. Therefore,

we do not have to fear God’s wrath, because our sins are forgiven and the weight of our guilt

has been removed.

In his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion, reformer John Calvin says that no sinner could ever

justify himself. Not only that, but wherever there is sin, there also “the wrath and vengeance of God

show themselves.” Conversely, a justified person is one “who is reckoned in the condition not of a

sinner, but of a righteous man; and for that reason, he stands firm before God’s judgment seat while

all sinners fall.” This happens when we trust not in ourselves and our own works—because we will

find nothing righteous within us— but in the righteousness of Christ through faith. That’s good news!

Day 5 Justification

ConnectingAs human beings, we are constantly trying to justify ourselves before others. Fearful of our

inadequacies and sins being exposed, we work tirelessly to prove ourselves. This leaves us

only exhausted and joyless. But when we begin to grasp the truth that in Christ we are wholly

accepted by God regardless of what we do, we experience a peace that allows us not to be

preoccupied with ourselves—our successes or failures. Further, we can have confidence as we

perform the work God has set before us, even with all of our human limitations. The doctrine of

justification brings an incredible freedom in our work, because if God, the ultimate judge, has

already deemed us righteous, then no one and nothing can steal our security or status in him.

Day 5 Justification

Day 6 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).

Day 6 Perseverance

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.

Day 6 Perseverance

ConnectingIn 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.

Day 6 Perseverance

Day 7 Scripture

Many people—some without even knowing it—read the Bible as if it were

merely a manual for living a moral life. The Bible, however, is so much

more than just that. It tells us not only about who we are and what our condition

is, but also about who God is and what he has done in history to redeem us.

Paramount to understanding the Bible is seeing it as a story.

Day 7 Scripture

The Bible is God’s telling of history that begins with creation, leads to Christ and ends with

new creation. Even though he arrives before the ending, Christ is the climax of this narrative.

All of Scripture points to him. And unless we know who Christ is, we cannot understand Scripture,

because he is the key to the story, the leading character. This view of Scripture helps us to not

only understand the Bible, but also to understand how work plays a critical role in the great

drama of redemption.

Day 7 Scripture

Many people today read only a few small sections of the Bible at a time. While this approach

can be helpful, it doesn’t allow those who follow it to learn the larger narrative of the Bible.

One reason why people have a difficult time integrating their faith with their work is that they lack

a comprehensive understanding of the Biblical narrative. From Genesis through Revelation, God

reveals the big picture of his redemptive purpose in history and in our lives. The story that begins

in a garden waiting to be cultivated ends in a city filled with the treasures brought in by the nations.

These beginning and end points provide the context to help us understand the significance of our

work. God not only saves his people, but also the work his people were created to do.

Day 7 Scripture

ConnectingWhen we understand that Scripture is a narrative and that God has been at work throughout all

of history to redeem this world, we don’t have to be cynical about our work, particularly in times

when brokenness feels so acute. Understanding the Biblical narrative reassures us with insights

that lead us to identify not only the broken elements but also those things that are still good and

in the process of being healed.

Day 7 Scripture

Day 7 Scripture