Today’s Word Is … WORKS

Welcome to Today’s Word Is … A Daily Devotion (Mon-Fri) by Chaplain Mark Davis. Friday is humor day, so here we go!

An old man living alone in Idaho wanted to break the ground for his potato garden, but it was very hard work with just a mattock and a spade. His only son, Bubba, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

Dear Bubba, … I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my potato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me. … Love, Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Dad, … For heaven’s sake, Dad, don’t dig up that garden, that’s where I buried the BODIES. … Love, Bubba

At 4:00 a.m. the next morning, F.B.I. agents and local police showed up and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. A couple of days later, the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Dad, … You can go ahead and plant the potatoes now. It’s the best I could do under the circumstances. … Love, Bubba

THOUGHTS:

God chose you and me to be problem solvers in our world, and to help others in need.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

This means that God decided not to do everything directly on his own. He chose instead to involve his people in doing the speaking, the work, the going, and the sharing. Sometimes that means getting creative. And as we do things for others, we are doing them for the Lord.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Just one caution … we don’t do these works in order to earn our way into God’s favor, or as a requirement for being saved. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

We still must do these good works, because as Martin Luther (1483-1546) pointed out, “God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.”

Have a good weekend, including rest, family, and worship,

Chaplain Mark