The first time we see the word work in the bible is in Genesis chapter 2. It reads, “and on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. It also says He saw all the work He had done and it was very good.
Then in that same chapter He delegates work to the man He had created, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Yes because of the Fall, the work man was given to do became cursed with all of creation and it would be harder to do with our fallen nature.
Jesus declares over and over that He came to do the work the Father had given Him to accomplish. He was representing the Father to everyone, so that they might come to know Him. In John 17: 4 we read, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”
Then one of the most incredible statements in all of scripture is John 17 where Jesus says, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them.” We have now been given the work to do of representing the Father to the world through the gospel story of Jesus Christ. We work as Ambassadors for Christ in the church scattered and our work is the ministry of reconciliation.
Work like people and all of creation is to be redeemed and restored so that it can be good again. To make sure there can be no doubt that work is part of our sacred calling we read in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
As you bear the fruit of the spirit in every meeting and by doing excellent work, you are representing Jesus Christ to three generations who are not going to church. You have redeemed and restored your work from a career to a calling. Well done my good and faithful servant will be your final performance review. How glorious !!!