GO LABOR ON!



Is there any type of labor that you hate to do? Maybe it is doing dishes, cleaning the house or shoveling snow (oh, that aching back the next day). Think in your own mind what the worse job is that you have to do. What helps you get through the toil and labor involved – necessity, perseverance or determination? Can you “whistle” while you work?

It has been said that drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of ones character. Drudgery is work that is removed from anything that we would think to be ideal. Is it possible that our spirituality is being tested to find out if we are really genuine?

Jesus did not hide from doing the hard or dirty work in this world. In John 14: 12-14, when Jesus had finished washing their feet of His disciples, he put on his clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” What a lesson and all from doing a job that we surely would have refrained from doing.

In Luke 1:40-42, there is a story where Jesus heals a leper. We just can’t imagine what being a leper was like in those days. No one could touch the leper and he could not touch anyone. Touching this “dirty” man did not matter to Jesus. In fact, he healed him.

One purpose for our being in this world is to build His church. Each of us has been given a talent. You say I do not have any talent. I have known people who have spent much time in praying for others. Their godliness was easy to see. Maybe you have a talent for cheering up the downhearted. – with a telephone call or a little note of encouragement. Maybe there is someone in need, with physical or financial problems, that you know about. Lend a helping hand.

How does a church grow? It only takes a spark to get a fire going. We are doing our duty to God when we are faithful to our duty to one another. We can’t all be pastors, teachers, prophets or evangelists. Some of us have to be the laborers, doing what is necessary to build God’s kingdom.



Who is on the Lord’s side, who will serve the King, who will be His helper, other lives to bring?

Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe, who for Him will go.



Not for weight of glory, not for crown and palm, enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm,

But for love that claimeth, lives for whom He died. He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.



Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the King’s own army none can overthrow,

For His truth unchanging makes triumph sure. We are on the Lord’s side, Savior we are thine..