Each year, on the first Monday in September, Americans observe a national holiday called Labor Day. Canadians celebrate the holiday on the same day, although the spelling is slightly different, and known as Labour Day. For some, the Labor Day holiday is a long weekend that marks the end of summer, with backyard barbecues, a final summer getaway, or shopping. Federal, state, and local governments close their offices. Banks and post offices also shut down for the day. However, the foundation for observing Labor Day is to pay tribute to working men and women in the U.S. and Canada.

As I know and understand the word labor,                  ( sometimes spelled labour) it means to work or toil. One of my favorite ways the word is implied is in the book of Nehemiah. I love how the Word talks about the rebuilding of the wall around the city. How the families joined together, young and old, to get the job done. The scripture says, in Nehemiah 4:6, that the people had a mind to work. Wow, I wish that were true today! In verse 17 the scripture says, “who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.” HCSB

As we all labor in the work of the Lord, I want to encourage you to move forward in the things the Lord has called you to do. Let us be a people who have a mind to work. Let’s keep our armor on and be about God’s business. Everything we do for the Kingdom is eternal. In Proverbs 10:16 the scripture says, ” the labour of the righteous (tendeth) to life:….Be about those things that bring forth life!

I truly honor all those who have labored and helped to build this wonderful country we live in. More importantly I honor all those who are laboring in the harvest. Luke 10:2 says, ” The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore for the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.  Happy Labor Day!

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