Text: Acts 7:44-8:1a
Prayer Pointers:
To be ready to give witness to God with your life
To be thankful for the labor of others
WE COME TO THE end of the story of Stephen’s great act of giving witness: “and Stephen fell asleep.” Stephen’s labors have ended; God has granted him rest, and we remember his work on December 26th as the feast day of his martyrdom.
Notice how the work does not end: at Stephen’s stoning Saul is present, and, even though Saul does not know God’s plans for him yet, we know that the Spirit is on the move, and the work of God, the work of God’s servants, will go on.
On this Labor Day, think about how the Spirit has moved down through the centuries and has come to you, and hallowed your life, your work. Luther says over and over that the tools, the equipment you use for work—things that have come from God’s hand, just as the skills you have to use them come from God’s hand—are intended for the good of the neighbor. Your work, your labor is connected to Stephen’s work, because we are all at work with the Holy Spirit to give witness to Jesus Christ in our lives.
May your labors this day and every day give witness.
May your day be grace-filled ~ Pr. Dave Brooks