ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)
Alma, Kansas
A family united by faith in Christ gathering around God's Word and Sacraments.
To reach out in Christ-like concern and Christ-borne love to each other and to those without Christ!
In This Month's
St. John Witness
SEPTEMBER WITNESS
Pastor's Message
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little;
I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Mathew 25:21
In the stone works, a young man was set to the task of carving a piece for a construction job. The man on the task had become ill, and the work was to be completed on time, so he was given the task. He did not know what the stone was being prepared for, but he went at it in his usual painstaking way. He chiseled out a stem here, a leaf there, and flowers above. The supervisor approved the job and the stone was sent on as it left the stone works.
Some months passed. Then, one day as the stone mason was walking through the great and beautiful building that had just been completed in the city, he came to a prominent pillar, a handsome column crowned with a piece of lily work.
Why,” he exclaimed, “that’s my bit of work!” Taking off his cap, he gazed at it and said reverently, “Thank God I did that job well!”
The remark was overheard, the light in his eye was seen, and he talked about what he had done. It was clear that he understood that work is a holy thing. That is, work is a gift of God to be put forth for others. Right wages are just treatment for workmen, but the work is sanctified by God who gives us the ability to labor in our earthly tasks.
I am sure I could not do such a work, but I am grateful for those who have those gifts and abilities. Did you know there is a work commandment from God? “Six days you shall labor and do your work, but the seventh is a Sabbath Day. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.”
It is godly for us to labor and toil in our endeavors. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
There is a work beyond each and all of us, that of making things right with God. We cannot construct a bridge between us and our maker. But He provided a crossing for us, by way of the cross. It is a bit of work that was done for us. And we are grateful for our Lord’s labors to rescue us form sin, death and the devil. Thanks be to God that He did the job well!
Justified by grace!
Pastor Grimm
