Are there parts of life where Jesus isn’t allowed?
That is a question that’s come up in my reading this week and in the sermon again this morning. In America we have a tendency to think of church (or religion) as separate from the rest of life. A growing sentiment urges, “Do what you want on Sundays, but leave it there.”
I don’t think we consciously do this. We know God wants us to love Him with all we are. We know God wants the church to work together to do the Great Commission. We know the church keeps asking for volunteers and attendance at many things throughout the week. (Come on. Let’s be honest. It feels like we can never give enough, doesn’t it?)
But then we have work and school and disagreements and laundry and cooking and making art projects and sports and “down time” and “date night” and so many other things. The list goes on and on. God’s not really interested in all of that… is He?
As a matter of fact, He is. All of it. God is not content with one hour a week or even one day a week. He is Lord. He is King. He is ruler over everything. He made us and He wants all of us.
God intimately cares for the universe and everything in it. God is intricately involved in gardening, farming, and the rhythms of nature. He’s involved in zoology and biology. He’s interested in animal husbandry (i.e. Psalm 104; Job 38-41). Yet He cares for the smallest details (Matthew 10:29-30).
God made us, shaping us in the womb. He has a plan for us which involves all of our heart, mind, will, desires, and actions (Psalm 139:13-18). God gifted Bezalel and Oholiab with artistic ability to use it in crafting items for the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). He uniquely gifts each one of us today to use our talents for His glory.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
There is no division in the Bible between “sacred” things and “secular” things. If we are in Christ, our very bodies are temples to the Lord, set apart to do His work (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This does not mean we all have to be pastors, vocational missionaries, or church workers. It DOES mean that we should treat everything we do as an act of service to God Almighty.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB)
What is one thing you can do this week to remind yourself, even while folding laundry, that what you do is an act of worship?
