May the favor of the Lord rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Many know I love the Baltimore Orioles. Growing up, I loved Cal Ripken. I was listening to my radio during many of Cal’s milestones. In September of 95, I tuned in as he tied and beat Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak of two thousand, one hundred thirty. I remember having my radio under my pillow in September 1998 when Cal chose to end his own consecutive games played streak of two thousand six hundred thirty-two. I was riveted to my radio when Cal played his final All-Star Game in July of 2001 in Seattle, where on the first pitch of his first at bat, he hit a homerun. Okay, it was a nothing pitch, but still!! And, I openly wept listening in October of that same year as Cal Ripken played his final game and then took a lap around the field at Camden Yards in Baltimore as fans and Orioles hall of famers joined in mutual adoration and celebration.
As I reflect on Cal’s work which was a marvel to so many it makes me wonder. Maybe we won’t ever play that many games in a row. But every day, shouldn’t we adopt the attitude Cal Ripken modeled in our Christian faith. Shouldn’t we get up with a will each and every morning, with a freshness, an eagerness to serve God, knowing he’s blessing us, spurring us on to do that work?
I find myself wondering, why do we lose heart? Does it become just a routine to go to church, read the bible, or sing a hymn? For that matter, do our routines have any thought, rhyme or reason all the time? Or have we settled into comfortable patterns and just kept them?
What if we took the kind of time we’re in now to allow God to help us reexamine our activities? To ask ourselves, why do I do what I do? Is what I’m doing helping me or hurting. Is it a joy each morning to get up and do what I do, or am I just doing it?
The Psalmist reminds us friends to allow God to help us establish the work of our hands, but it’s not actually our hands rather it’s God’s spirit guiding our hands. Translation, our hands should be the hands of God, not ours in this world. So do you have God’s hands when you do what you do? Do you have God’s hands as you interact with others in a loving way? Do you have God’s hands when you’re in conflict, when problems hit, or when there’s uncertainty in your day? Do you have God’s hands as you go about your daily activities, appreciating they are all because of, and by his grace? Without that, none of it would be there, or happen!
My prayer this week is each and every day we refresh ourselves in doing what we do. That we allow God to establish his work in our hands. That our love is his, our joy is his, our purpose is his, and our work is his and his alone. Otherwise, we may as well do nothing. Why? Because it won’t mean a thing or make one bit of difference. So friend, get up, keep working. Each day remind yourself; this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
To God be the glory! Pastor Brandon
Sunday School at 9:00 am and Morning Worship at 10:15 am
with Pastor Brandon, enjoy the feeling of home and family.
All are Welcome.