Work dedicated to God . . .with JOY!

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.

(Nehemiah 11:27)

Everything we accomplish . . . all of our labor, should be dedicated to the Lord! In this way we are assured of His blessings and we know it pleases our God. But we also should give our work to God with joy, not grudgingly!

All the work . . . I mean ALL the work that Nehemiah supervised in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was done with a covering from the Lord. He was so careful to stay in prayer and stay in a posture of thanksgiving. It gave Nehemiah great joy to sacrifice, labor, and give God the final project and all the credit.

Nehemiah would agree with Paul:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Colossians 3:15-17)

How would our jobs be different if we dedicated our labor to the Lord each day? How would our families be changed . . . how would our relationships with our spouse and children be different? If we worked at all the various tasks in our lives with a mind to please God . . . . WOW! Would God not be pleased and we be changed?

I would wager that the world would be a bit different as well . . .

And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

(Nehemiah 12:43)

I pray that the sounds of my praises and all of our rejoicing can be heard throughout our neighborhoods and work places this day! God is good . . . let the people know . . . let God know!!!!