Day of Praise

Mo, 09/02/13, "Day of Praise"

"For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." - Romans 14:7-8

On this Labor Day, when most are taking a break from work, may God continue to reshape our attitude toward work.

When our "work" is done as if it's an act of worship and thanks to God, we're able to see more clearly how God wants to do his own work for us, in us, and through us.

This was how Adam and Eve worked before they sinned. Their work was originally a joy for them, a blessing to others, and a glory to God. They were on a permanent Labor Day Holiday because, before sin, their was no drudgery to get away from. Their work was like a slice of heaven; it was a part of what, in today's Bible verse, God calls living to the Lord; their work was done with a song in their heart as worship and thanks to God.

Dear God,
Please help us to enjoy this Labor Day as you intend. May it be for us not just an escape from work. But may this Labor Day be under your Lordship as you work to restore us to our work in Paradise where work was both a joy and also a way for us to thank you and worship you. You alone can work this in our hearts. So we lay our hearts before you as we praise your holy name.
Amen.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson