Labor Day weekend is coming. Many working people appreciate this break from ordinary work in so many fields of endeavor. But it also reminds me of another way in which we need to labor. Paul told Timothy to: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
I was taught this verse as a teenager by a dear elder in my home church. It has stayed with me ever since. It implies that we should labor to study the Scriptures and learn how to correctly handle them (how different parts apply and fit together). This does not happen by just sitting in church! It takes effort on our part, in other words, labor.
As we take a break from regular labor and celebrate Labor Day, why not consider how you might labor in the study of God’s Word? Would you add one hour a week through a devotional series, or an hour of Bible study? Of course, that’s a loaded question because some fall Bible studies are starting this coming week! There are Sunday morning Adult Bible Fellowships, Women’s study groups on weekdays, and I’m starting a study on John’s Gospel on Wednesday night, September 8 at 6:30 P.M. Join us in the Chapel/Clubhouse as we look at some interesting sevens in the gospel: seven signs, seven divine names, and seven life-changing conversations with Jesus. This will be a verse by verse study but we will always be looking at the bigger picture of how things fit together.
May your Labor Day be blessed, and also your labor in God’s Word!
Lord, thank you for special days where we take a break from regular duties. But also we thank you that we can devote ourselves in a fresh way to your Word. Thank you also for the promise that “our labor in the Lord is not in vain”. This is especially helpful when we see the great trials in our country and at times it looks like our culture is going backwards.
We know that your Word is the one, unchanging Truth in our world. We know that Jesus is our unchanging Savior. But Lord, forgive us when we don’t even take time to read the words of Jesus, let alone all the inspired books of the Bible written down by your servants.
Remind us that your word is alive, just as Christ is alive in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I’ll close with a thought from a song called “The Battle is the Lord’s”. The song is based on a story from II Chronicles 20:
Sing unto the Lord, make a joyful sound,
Lift your voices and let your praise resound.
Sing a vict’ry song in the time of war,
Trust in Jesus, the Battle is the Lord’s.
If you’d like to hear this song, tune in to my devotion on Fairfield Christian Church Facebook for next week, beginning on Monday afternoon. God Bless.