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The Blessing of Work

Words of Faith Final

The Blessing of Work
Words of Faith 1-13-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 2
    [15] The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. [16] And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

       These days few would argue that work is a blessing. With many out of work, the blessing of making a living is not to be taken for granted. Work is a blessing. But the Bible teaches us that work was created to be a blessing and not simply because it is a means to provide for our families and homes.
        We don't want to forget that work came before the fall. The Lord God gave man a job from the very beginning! Work was one of the first gifts that God gave to man. That is something we often miss, isn't it? Later, there will be a "difficult labor" curse upon the humans because of their rebellion. Still, the original intention was for work to be a gift that would challenge and fulfill us as a part of His very best plan and intention.
        So work is a good thing, not a "four-letter word." Work can be challenging but still, be good. As redeemed children, under grace, work is wonderfully fulfilling and a source of joy. Because of His redeeming grace we can recapture something of what the Lord originally intended. We can rediscover what it means to take on challenges, subdue tasks and overcome the burdens before us.
        Throughout the Bible, we have examples of godly people who received the gift of work and even found the Lord joined in the labor. A good example is Nehemiah, who devoted himself to the work God put before him and saw how the Lord would join him. "I devoted myself to the work on this wall... the wall was completed ... this work had been done with the help of our God" (Nehemiah 5:16; 6:15-16). We will find great joy in the help of the Lord to complete what He puts before us.
           Paul instructed the believers at Colosse: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col. 3:23-24). We are to work as unto the Lord. He is our boss. He is our guide. He is our partner. He is our strength. We are to work with all our heart. Devoted to the Lord in all we do.
           How is your work going? Perhaps you are not employed right now, and your work is to seek work. Maybe you are underemployed, needing more gainful work? Or perhaps you are overemployed, working too much for too little? Perhaps your work right now is to study and learn for the future. Whatever the case, are you working as unto the Lord? Is He your boss? No matter what you do, even if it is seeking employment, you are at work for the Lord as you seek to complete what He has put before you for this day. Give this day to Him. Give the work of this day to Him. Work for Him alone and rejoice as He helps you complete the day.

           Father, thank You for the gift of work. Thank You for the challenges and opportunities You have put before me. Help me to see Your hand in all that I do. Give me strength and encourage me as You help me to complete what is before me. In Jesus' name.
    
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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.