There are times here of late when I am getting calls at all hours from telemarketers. I try to be kind but also I have stopped listening to their sales pitch and just politely hang up while they are still talking. On the other hand if it is early in the morning I can reply I am sorry but I am on the way to work and I do not have time now to talk to you. Our lives in caring for our families often revolve around getting to work. Work, for some, is a dirty four-letter word. For most people however, it is a blessing to have a job to go to and earn money for the good of the family.
On day six of creation week when God created man and woman, he gave them the gift of language (Gen. 1:26). Adam was able to name the animals God brought to him on day six. Later in the same day he recognized the woman as being one like him. The declaration would be made for all future generations of God’s plan. A man would leave his own home and begin one a new with his wife (Gen. 2:24). My point is that language has come from God since day six of the creation week. There are those who corrupt language and can use it to mislead or to be vulgar.
When we turn the pages of God’s Word, we should place high value on the words that have been translated into our English translations. Some newer translations admit words that the copies of the New Testament do not have and in some cases have removed words that were there. Over all the years the KJV has stood the test of time and the voice of critics. It is a good translation to check out the newer translations. I am turning then to that particular translation and look up how God uses the word “work”.
Christians are to always abound in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58). No problem with the word abound. Peter uses the same idea in telling Christians to “add” to their faith (2 Peter 1:5). We pause and say, but what is the work of the Lord? Pilate had Jesus standing before him and questioned Jesus is He was the king of the Jews. Jesus answered it was for this very cause, to be a King that He came into the world (John 18:37). In the same verse, Jesus also said that He came to bear witness to the truth. In His last moments with His disciples He would send them into all the world in order to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). He sends them to preach the gospel and that agrees with the truth He expressed to Pilate. He came to bear witness to the truth. Let us look at two effects of that preaching after people obeyed the truth. Those in Acts 4 sold property and brought the money to the apostles (Acts 4:34). Christians because of God would be kind and tenderhearted toward each other (Eph. 4:32).
Are you running late today? I mean it is time to go to work. Not just going to a building somewhere but rather going to work for the Lord by being the church.