Work

 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)

We don't work to earn God's salvation. Yet if we want His seal of approval for our lives of faith in Him, we need to work hard. Our work doesn't earn God's acceptance, but it does prove that we are accepted by Him.

Elsewhere, Paul says he's not ashamed of the gospel. The gospel is that even though our work isn't sufficient, Christ's is. Because He died upon the cross, we can be accepted by God.

Having been saved by Christ, we're not to live shamefully. We're to live for His glory. Timothy was commissioned to explain the word of truth. There's a sense in which we all are as God's people: we're to do so well.

Every believer in Christ is called by Him to make Him known and to glorify Him in our lives. We're to know and understand the gospel well. That way, we're in a position to correctly explain it.

'God, please help us to work hard for You and Your glory, even as we trust in Christ and His finished work upon the cross, in whose name we pray, amen'.