DEVOTION - Introduction

This is the initial post for the large group conversation. Working and Laboring with God is the theme, so as we move throughout the week, we hope to connect work into our living faith.

Let’s Get to Work: Partnering with God in our Vocation

Introduction
In the well-known passage from Ecclesiastes, we are reminded that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, and a time…well, I think you get the idea. For those of us heading to Pine Ridge, we know exactly what time it is. The time of preparation is over. The time of planning has come to an end. Now is the time to WORK!
God has called us to join with him and the residents of Pine Ridge to remind the world of God’s hope and love for us. Our work is in partnership with God’s work. In our work this week, we will all use different gifts and talents to participate in this glorious hope. Some of us will serve by building and crafting, others will cook and teach, and still others will visit and extend a hand of hospitality. But no matter what our specific task is, we will all work hard to participate with God in his work in the world. Our work and relationships are for God’s glory.
With this purpose in mind, we want to take a closer look at how our work this week is cooperating with God to bring glory and honor to him. From the creation account to building the Temple to tent making in the Roman Empire, there is a lot of work being done in Scripture. God continually calls us to participate with him. Throughout Scripture, God interacts with humanity through work, and there is much to be learned from how God is continually interacting with humanity through work.
Work is something that should connect more with our spiritual journey. Just think of how much time we spend at work, whether at the office or at home. We invest a great amount of time and energy into our work, our vocations. And yet there is often a disconnect between Sunday and Monday, a disconnect between our faith and our vocation. In today's world people see their work as a long, dark tunnel between leisurely weekends or a passion bordering on addiction; work is a curse from God or a necessity for a paycheck. Actually, Work is a divine calling. So what does the Bible say about labor and toil that consumes the hours of day-to-day life?
Over the next week, we hope to examine what the Bible says about work, why this affects our time at Pine Ridge, and how we can take this home with us. The time has come: let’s get to work. For God’s glory and neighbor’s good.

Peace,

Pastors Kyle and Lindsay