In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul writes, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Be submissive to one another out of reverence for Christ." (NASB)

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)

In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this city and in the presence of the Jews, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory with the holy angels." (NASB)

Finally, Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us to "forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. All of us have this open and appealing prospect laid before us, but only if we do not relax and become complacent." (Phillips)

As we navigate our daily lives, it's easy to become distracted by the things of this world. We may feel like we're just going through the motions, without a clear sense of purpose. But Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23-24 that our work is not just for human recognition, but for the Lord. When we do our work heartily, as unto the Lord, we are rewarded with an inheritance that is waiting for us.

Faithfulness is not just about doing what's right; it's about having a deep trust in God's goodness and sovereignty. In Hebrews 11:6, we're reminded that without faith it is impossible to please God. But when we come to Him with a humble heart, believing that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him, we can trust that He will guide us and provide for us.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:24-25 that following Him requires us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This isn't a call to be masochistic or self-destructive, but rather a call to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. When we're ashamed of Him or His words, He will be ashamed of us when He returns. But when we choose to stand firm in our faith, we can trust that He will be proud of us.

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul encourages us to forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead. He reminds us that we have an open and appealing prospect laid before us, but only if we don't relax and become complacent. When we're focused on our faithfulness to God, we can trust that He will guide us towards the goal of winning the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

• What does it mean to you to do your work heartily as unto the Lord? How can you apply this principle to your daily life?
• How do you define faithfulness? What are some practical ways you can demonstrate your faithfulness to God in your daily life?
• What does it mean to you to take up your cross and follow Jesus? How can you prioritize your relationship with Him above all else?
• How can you apply the principle of forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead in your daily life? What are some things you need to let go of in order to move forward?