Sacred or Same

Laura Ingle  Laura Ingle

Key scripture – “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike” (Romans 14:5).

Avodah (Ah´-voe-dah) is a Hebrew noun used in the Bible that has two distinct yet intertwined meanings: worship and work. It is also derived from the Hebrew verb L’Avod which has two meanings; to work and also to worship. The dual meaning offers powerful wisdom for modern times for how we are to view our work lives.

Work, if done with integrity and unto God, is a form of worship in the biblical Hebrew context. There has never been a concept of segmenting our work from our faith life in the Bible. It is in the realm of the sacred to bring God into our everyday life, which includes our work life. Hebrews set aside a Sabbath day of rest but they did not set aside a “day of worship,” such as Saturday or Sunday, because everyday is a place and time of worship. It is a western idea to segment one’s faith life from our work like.

God calls us to do our work as an act of worship to Him. Our work is not to be a place of sweat and toil, but an expression of our love, faith and adoration of Jesus Christ. Today, before you work, ask God to help you see your work in a new way–as worship to Him.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Colossians 3:23-25).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, You tell us in Psalm 15 how to conduct ourselves at work, and if we apply these principles we will rest and lodge in Your tent and dwell on Your Holy Hill. I pray this Psalm and I ask that You give me the wisdom to live this out in my life, and that the Holy Spirit counsel and guide me in doing just that: “O Lord, who may lodge as a guest in Your tent? Who may dwell continually on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it for his own benefit; He does not put out his money at interest to a fellow Israelite, And does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” (Psalm 15:1-5 AMP). In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

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