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Welcome to Wilderness Wanderings.\xa0 My name is Renita Reed-Thomson, and I have the privilege to serve as a partner missionary with you at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church.

I want to talk with you today about what it means to do our work as worship.\xa0 It\u2019s a catchy phrase\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 but what does it really mean? Does its simply mean dedicating all we do to the glory of God, or is there more to it? We want to look at a Hebrew word in our exploration, \u2018Avodah\u2019 and which means \u201cwork, serve, and worship.\u201d\xa0

Our text comes from three different verses which use this same Hebrew word \u201cAvodah.\u201d

Key Verses

\u2022\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 (ESV) Tend in this verse is often translated \u2018till\u2019 or \u2018work.\u2019 It is interesting to note that the two words translated here as tend (avad) and care (keep or guard), are often used together in reference to keeping the law.

\u2022\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He said, \u201cBut I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.\u201d Exodus 3:12 (ESV) In this verse, the word Avodah/serve refers to worship.

\u2022\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.\u201d Joshua 24:15 (ESV) Again, note that tend/work, worship, and serve are all the same word in Hebrew.\xa0

John Piper said that mission exists because worship does not.\xa0 How much greater would be our worship of God if we turned what we do most of the week from \u201cwork\u201d to \u201cworship?\u201d\xa0 Too often, we separate our worship from our work.\xa0 It is something we do on Sundays.\xa0 But God is the author of work and it the greatest of all workers.\xa0 We are made in his image to work in such a way that it brings honor and glory to Him.\xa0

One of God\u2019s great gifts to us is fulfillment and dignity that come in and through work. As is His way, He gives us this gift and delights in us as we give it back to Him, then He gives more back to us! We can never outgive Him or worship Him too much in and through our lives. As we do this with and in our work, God is glorified. Don\u2019t be surprised if avenues of creativity and new opportunities aren\u2019t opened up to you along the way of discovering work as worship!

Let\u2019s pray together.

Prayer

Father, we thank you that you have given us the privilege to work; to be occupied with worthwhile endeavors that reflect your love and care for us, our families, and our community. We pray that you will open our eyes to see your glory in the work you have given us to do. We pray that we will glorify you by giving back to you our \u2018whole soul\u2019 as we worship you in our work. Amen.