Good morning,
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Yesterday we celebrated Labor Day. In 1894, Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday after a failed attempt to break up a railroad strike. Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.
God says we are His workmanship in Ephesians 2:10. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” If this is true then we need to be working for Him. John 9:4 states, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Second Timothy 2:15 gives us a starting point. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” First Thessalonians 4:11-12 tells us how we should work. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
The goal of working is the hope that someday there will be a reward for your labor. God has a reward for those who have worked for Him. Matthew 16:27 states, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” First Corinthians 3:12-15 states, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
What is the ultimate work of God? John 6:28-29 tells us. “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
If you would like to discuss what it means to believe on God, please contact me.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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