Lectionary for 3/14/08

Today's readings are Exodus 5.1-6.1 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+5.1-6.1 ) and Mark 15.33-47 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mk.+15.33-47 ).

 

Pharaoh required the Israelites to manufacture bricks for governmental building projects.  When the Israelites stated their desire to go out and worship, that request was refused and the Israelites were ordered to gather the straw they needed to make the bricks by themselves.  Of course, they were unable to keep up their level of productivity.  At the end of the passage in Exodus, God promises to have Pharaoh send the Israelites out by himself.

 

Christians often confront difficulties on the job.  How many times have you said or heard something to the effect of, "I wish I didn't have to work so hard at work.  I'd like to be able to spend more of that time in 'real' work, ministering for Christ."  And it is all too common for employers to wonder about Christians, who often seem more inclined to engage in the work of an evangelist than in that work for which they were hired.  When we do that, are we in fact trying to make bricks without straw?

 

To put it bluntly, if you work as a billing clerk, your ministry before Christ during your work hours is to serve Christ by getting your employer's bills out and trying to make sure they are paid.  And you do it, like everything else, with a cheerful attitude that gives evidence to those around you of the hope that is in you through Christ.  If you work as a carpenter, your ministry before Christ is to build things.  If you work as a bus driver, your ministry before Christ is to get people to their destination safely.  This is doing God's work.

 

Occasionally the Lord will bless you with opportunities to do the work of an evangelist, to encourage, exhort, and comfort people through the Scripture.  Frequently, the vast majority of the work we do is not of that nature, but may lead to it if we do it as a faithful service to Christ.  There's our calling.

 

In this new covenant, the covenant of grace, our Lord and Savior has given us work to do, and it is all a way of serving him.  Let's go serve our Lord today and every day.  We don't need to leave the office to worship and serve the Lord.  We can do it by reviewing those reports that we need to understand to keep the company healthy.