Avodah

Not so long ago I was having a conversation with a worship leader about why more contemporary Christian songs are not written about everyday life and how we find God in the ordinary.

He said that we all need reminded about where our focus is.

He pulled up his sleeve and the words AVODAH were tattooed on his arm. I was surprised, in fact shocked. I did not realise he knew Hebrew and I asked was this permanent post it to remind you about worship when you lead in Church?

He remarked on the contrary; it was to remind him when he worked that it was STILL worship. He had been doing physical work to earn money and felt convicted one day that he should be careful about his thinking.

Simply leading or participating in worship in church was not the full extent of how we offer our lives as living sacrifices to our Lord Jesus, our Ultimate Sacrifice. You may know the word work and the word worship are both rooted etymologically in this strange Hebrew word Avodah. You could say purposeful work and worship are interchangeable.

Therefore, do not be deceived, what you do each day has the potential to be a tangible sacrifice of worship. In the work of our hands the Psalmist of 90:17 reminds us, we are participating with God in a much grander narrative than we see in the moment. Our 'ordinary' work has the capacity to be of lasting value.

As one Rabbi put it: our good deeds are the seeds of heavens trees!

Mark Miskimmin

Belfast HUB Member