Work

(Work was our prompt this week in the Five-Minute Friday writing group.)

“Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a living’…” Dolly’s song is one of those that once you hear it, you can’t get it out of your head. I believe that it has became the battle cry of women and men alike. For those who are too young to remember this catchy song, it mainly deals with the fact that most of us work because we have to. The average man never wins. We barely make it by and most often than not we live paycheck to paycheck.

Today I was listening to a recording of a workshop I had signed up for. He used the scripture Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I have heard this verse many times but today I needed to hear it. Maybe you to do.

Do you question who you are? Where am I going? What was I created to do? Can I make a difference? Will I ever be able to get out of this rut?

This verse helps me answer some of those questions!

*You are God’s workmanship.” Let that sink in. The word workmanship in this verse means a masterpiece. One of a kind! There is no one else like you. God made you with special gifts and talents.

*You were created in Good Christ Jesus for good works.” Good works are not a requirement for me as a Christian, but a natural expression of my purpose in Christ Jesus. I know what Christ has done for me! We get tripped up with this because we don’t feel like the things we do are good works. “I clean houses.” “I just do fast food.” “I’m a secretary.” “I work in a factory. No one ever notices.” Good works are more often than not your day to day kinds of things. It could be as simple as smiling at a coworker. Being honest. Cleaning up someone else’s mess. Trust me, someone is watching! It might not be the higher ups but that person on the line with you is wondering, “Why is she happy to be at work?”

I’m retired from my teaching job now. I know what it is to get up early every day and never feel you have time to relax. But, the older I get the more important it is to me to look for “good works” that God is calling me to do. Remind yourself every day who created you. You are one of a kind. And, you were created to do good works. No matter how big or how small.

Holy Father,

I pray right now for anyone wondering, feeling forgotten, or who doesn’t understand who they are that You would come into their life. I pray that there will be people surrounding them who will help them find their calling. Help them understand that they are a masterpiece. In Jesus’s name, Amen