We are looking forward to the fall study in Luke starting next week.
Here is a classic devotional article from bulletins past:
Rest for the Laborer
This first weekend in September, America celebrates Labor
Day. It's a long holiday weekend, established to honor working men and women,
to reward those who labor long and hard. It's the last summer fling before the
kids go back to school and before we dig into the challenges of the Autumn.
Yet, for many, an extra day off doesn't provide real relief or rest from the
weight and stress of their labors. How can our work be a joy rather than a
burden, a blessing rather than a curse, a holy calling rather than a salaried
cell? These simple suggestions can help us to stay joyful and productive at
whatever task God puts before us.
1. Make the task set before us a labor of
love. It's easy to
work when we love what we do, but what if we don't? At that point, we need to
love Whom we are doing it for. Decide to make our work an act of love
towards the God who first loved us, towards our family, and towards others that
God loves...then it will not seem an unbearable weight or an endless hassle (1
Corinthians 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:18-25; Ephesians 2:4-10; 6:5-9; Philippians
2:14-15).
2. Trust God for acknowledgment and
appreciation. We all
know how hard it is to maintain our energy and enthusiasm when being
chronically unnoticed and under-appreciated. Other people might not notice our
labor, but God does. He is aware of everything we do, and our motivation for
doing it. Looking only to Christ for affirmation, and the strokes I need, has
helped me tremendously. He is the One we serve. Ultimately He gives the lasting
reward for our labor (Colossians 3:22-24). If people recognize what we do and
express appreciation, then that it just frosting on the cake! Remember that the
reward will far outweigh the suffering (Romans 8:18; Hebrews 12:1-2).
3. See that our labor is purposeful. I recently ran into a college
classmate and asked him what he was doing for a living. After a little
hesitation, he said that he was in quality control for a commercial
air-conditioning manufacturer. I thought, "How did he get into that? Who
thinks up jobs like that?" But then I wondered what hot days would be like
if nobody did that job. Chances are, we would all be a lot less comfortable in
our labors. Remember our labor is purposeful.
·
God
has set us right where we are (1 Corinthians 11:8).
·
Every
part needs to do its share so that the body can grow (Ephesians 4:16).
·
Wait
on the Lord and work in the Strength He provides (Isaiah 40:27-31; Matthew
11:28-30).
·
Help
others with their Labors (Galatians 6:2; John 4:36-38; Philippians 2:3-4).
·
God
has called us to be His ambassadors to our co-workers (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
4. Know where the finish line is. The finish line is not 5:00 p.m., it’s not Friday, it’s not the
beginning of our vacation, and it’s not retirement. The finish line is
faithfulness to our Lord, day-by-day, wherever He places us, unto the end (2
Timothy 4:5-8; Revelation 2:10-11).
Finding renewed rest in my labors,
Pastor Greg
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