“God’s Work, Our Hands”

September 10, 2023

Micah 6:8 + “He has told you, O mortal, what is good,and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 22:34-40 + “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

“God’s Work, Our Hands”

Pastor Greg Ronning

This Sunday many congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be gathering for “God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday;” taking a break from our usual Sunday routines to participate in service projects that bear witness to our identity – “one church, freed in Christ to love and serve our neighbor.”This year marks the 10th anniversary of “God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday.”

Participating in a life marked by service to neighbor allows us to live out one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: “All of life in Jesus Christ — every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life — flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”    We love others because we have been loved!

It’s “God’s Work” and “Our Hands,” it’s important to note the word order!  Former Bishop Mike Girlinghouse of Nebraska writes, “The order of the words in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s tagline, “God’s Work, Our Hands,” is important. I appreciate the fact that, whoever came up with this tagline, put “God’s Work” first. Unfortunately, sometimes we get it backwards. We turn it around and act like “Our Hands” comes first (even if we that’s not what we intend). That we are the ones who define God’s Work. That it is our work that will save the world and that God simply blesses it. Nothing could be further from the truth!”

So it is, when it comes to participating in the work of God, we must first discern what it is God is doing.  If we are going to do the work of God, we need to learn what the work of God is.  Then, and only then, we can use our hands in service to the kingdom.  This critical work of discernment begins with the scriptures and is followed by prayer.“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

What do we know about the work of God as found in the scriptures?  Some of my favorites would be …

Micah 6:8. + “He has told you, O mortal, what is good,and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Great Commandment as found in the Gospel of Matthew.+  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The Judgement of the Nations as found in the 25th chapter of Matthew. +“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’  And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’” 

Zechariah 7:8-10 + “The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.” 

Matthew 5:43-45 + “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, …”

And finally …

John 13:34-35 + “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The work of God, the common theme found in all the scriptures, is simple and clear, we are called to love and serve our neighbor, the stranger, the sojourner, the alien, and even our enemy.  They will know we are Christians by our love.

This Sunday, our “God’s Work, Our Hands” service project will be serving a Thank You Breakfast to our Fire Department just down the street from us on Commonwealth and Lemon.  Fire Fighters don’t just put out fires, they come to the aid of all those in need, those in danger, those who need to be rescued, and those who are experiencing a medical trauma.  They truly love and serve their neighbors.  And as we approach September 11th, as we are reminded of the heroic efforts of the Fire Departments in New York City on that fateful day, we remember that Fire Fighters often put their own lives on the line in service to others.

Today we will “serve”our Firefighters breakfast, and we will express our “gratefulness” for their good work, the work of God, with “Thank You”cards and treats.  “God’s Work, Our Hands.”  Amen.

Hymn “God’s Work, Our Hands”

God's work, our hands: working together,

building a future, repairing the world,

raising up homes, planting new gardens,

feeding the hungry and shelt'ring the cold.

Bless, God, our hands as we work in your name,

sharing the good news of your Gospel.

God's work, our feet: trav'ling together,

following Jesus to places unknown,

walking as friends, marching for freedom,

running the race with God's future the goal.

Bless, God, our feet as we follow your way,

sharing the good news of your Gospel.

God's work, our voice: singing together,

praising, proclaiming to all who will hear,

praying for peace, shouting for justice,

claiming God's love for the lost and the least.

Bless, God, our voice as we speak in your name,

sharing the good news of your Gospel.

God is at work in and around us:

seedlings are sprouting and bread's on the rise!

Washed and set free, humbled and honored,

gifted by grace, we respond in God's love.

Bless, God, our lives as we answer your call,

sharing the good news of your Gospel.

Amen.