WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD    August 30, 2023

THE WORKING SERVANT

Colossians3:1-17 NRSV

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:17

God is aways doing something in our midst. And I believe God is shaking us up to take notice and so we can really get to work for his mission, serving him, serving rightly, seeking the welfare of the community.

During the late 19th century, the average laborer often worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day, including child laborers as young as five years old. Labor unions progressively rallied for reforms, advocating for a day dedicated to honoring the working class, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

God calls us to be the ideal ministry servant, to grow in wissdom, kindness, generosity, and energetic in our faith. We gird ourselves in strength and dignity. We are to be authentic and trustworthy in our prayer life–available prayer warriors. We are to be a match in faithful ministry, to be respected and not dominated. To do our work in the name of the Lord Jesus carries at least two ideas: We recognize that we represent Jesus in the workplace and how we treat each other. How diligently and faithfully we do our work reflects on our relationship with the Lord.

In the heart of humanity is Jesus. With Jesus’ likeness, theere is the capacity to experience God’s significant call and to see the fragmentation in our communities, in our nation, and around the world. God calls us to be the ideal ministry servant, to grow in wisdom, kindness, generosity, strength and dignity, authentic,trustworthy, and available in the faithful ministry. We are to “put on” certain characteristics so that we live these qualities: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We do not merely “have” them, but practice them with authentic action, in our work. Above all, “put on love” for each other, building relationships with the power of God who has the capacity to bind all godliness together for his divine purpose.

As a working servant reflect on your achievement, let the peace of Christ reign in your heart and be thankful to God for providing resources that support our missions for the greater good. And together let’s honor those who have helped shape missional work with unwavering dedication and hard work world-wide throughout generations.

Give thanks for the gift and opportunity of work; may our efforts always be pure of heart, for the good of others and the glory of God. Lift up in prayer all who long for humane employment and for those who work to defend the rights and needs of workers everywhere. Amen.

Rev. Carole