what is our work

As God's children, we are to work but not in the way we commonly think. By work we normally think of doing/acting/working to gain some ¹direct or immediate benefit for ourselves. Whatever that gain is, be it money, fame, importance, safety, security etc, we seek to be affirmed as significant/valuable and/or to ²secure our safety. But in fact, our work should be to honor (value) God and bless (value) others instead. 

When we peel back the layers, our need for a sense of positive identity/value and/or safety is what ultimately drives most if not all behavior e.g. pursuit of money, fame, importance, safety, security etc. i.e. the goal of our actions is to bolster ourselves instead of honoring God and loving our neighbor. 

However, as believers, our work is the work of being (who we already are), not doing. I doesn't mean we do nothing, it means our work should come out of being i.e. All good and right doing springs out of (is the fruit of) right being first. 

John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

We do/act because we are already loved and watched over i.e. we don't work to gain identity/value/ love or protection, we work because we already have it.

And who or what is it exactly that we are and what is it that we already have? 

We are fully and infinitely loved, cherished, and cared for in Christ. "Being" (abiding) is to remain in (not move from or off of) this posture i.e. we are called to fix/set our heart and mind on who we are (beloved) in him and not move/budge from (doubt/question) this. What we have is God's infinite love in and through Christ. There is nothing we can do to make that more than it already is. 

We are to always recognize (believe) we are loved and never stop believing this regardless of whatever else is happening. This is what the bible means by ³abiding in Christ. Our status (state of being) is one of being perfectly loved, cared for and embraced by God at all times in all things because of all Christ did on our behalf. Rom 8:35-39

John 15:9  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 


What kind of love are we loved with

Christ is saying the very same love (i.e. an infinite and bottomless love) that the Father has for him is the same exact love Christ has for us. And what is the nature of the love of the Father for the Son? It is infinite and total. 

Our "work" is to believe this reality is true of us as well, then act accordingly, even if and when we don't feel it is. 

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” - Jesus - Joh 6:27-29   

And it is indeed hard work, for often our circumstances make it hard for us to believe God is for us, still with us, has not abandoned us, is caring for us, watching over us and fully embracing us when circumstances are challenging and we don't feel his presence or see what we might think is evidence of his hand in our lives. 

This was true at different times for Christ as well. 


God's love takes care of both our inner and our outer mess. 

No destructive attitude or disposition by us (inner mess)

AND

No difficulty or circumstance to us (outer mess)

will ever separate God's love from us.

When we rest (abide/stay/stand) fully in who we are as God's beloved child, then we will do what we are designed to do i.e. legitimate doing comes out of being first.

John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

For a further discussion on being/abiding click here. 

For a discussion on the fight of faith click here. 
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¹It is not that direct benefits/fruit/results do not come from our efforts. They certainly do. It is that these come when sought for the glory of God i.e. to bring honor/attention/ praise to himself and not to us. 

For a further discussion this click here. 

²because we are broken we use God's good gifts for the wrong end i.e. to bolster our poor sense of value.  Matt 6:25-33 

³abide - μένω - menō

Thayer Definition:

1) to remain, abide

1a) in reference to place

1a1) to sojourn, tarry

1a2) not to depart

1a2a) to continue to be present

1a2b) to be held, kept, continually

1b) in reference to time

1b1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure

1b1a) of persons, to survive, live

1c) in reference to state or condition

1c1) to remain as one, not to become another or different

2) to wait for, await one