By Pastor Don Schatz

Or Am I Done?

You can listen to today’s Devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

I worked summers at a plywood mill during my college days.  One summer, I worked near an old timer named Elmer.  Over the years he had mastered the art of leaning on a broom underneath conveyor belts and chains of the station that removed the bark from logs.  The foreman saw Elmer working hard.  Oh, how I admired Elmer’s skill!

One day, as quitting time neared, I was emulating Elmer, standing next to him with a broom.  He asked, “Well, did you get ‘er all done or are you going to have to come back tomorrow?”  Humorous as it was, I also realized that we all came back every day.  Monday through Friday at least.  And I just had to do that during the summer.  I would not have wanted to have that as a career!

“When God gives any man wealth and possessions and enables him to enjoy them…and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.”   
Ecclesiastes 5:19 New International Version

One of the things I am ‘working at’ these days is creating interior trim around six new windows.  Frankly, it seems like I will never finish.  I’m sure it has nothing to do with possible mistakes I have made along the way.

As unfinished as my windows currently are, I am unfinished in some ways as well.  Truthfully, we are more finished than we are unfinished.  God is actually ‘finished’ with me.  And you.  When Jesus said ‘it is finished’ on the Cross, he meant that for us as well.  We ‘do not have to come back tomorrow.’  Salvation, forgiveness, the gift of eternal life, fellowship with God and with one another in the church.  All these are DONE!

Is God still working on us?  The Spirit is growing us more and more into the mind and will of Christ.  But he doesn’t consider it work.  He loves us.  Is Bible Study work?  Prayer? Our devotional life?  Worship?  Fellowship groups?  No!  We are more “Done” than we think.  Because God is “Done.”  He isn’t done loving us, however.  Or caring for us.  Or forgiving us.  Or celebrating that we are his children.  Or blessing us in a myriad ways.  Of course, none of that is work for him.  All those things are fun for him.  Like my windows are for me!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado