Work for the kingdom

Tom walked into my office in rough shape: drunk and homeless. He needed help. I bought him some food, invited him to church, and told him about Jesus. Over the next year, that pattern repeated. Finally, though, enough was enough. “Tom, I just can’t keep enabling this kind of behavior.” He got mad and walked out of my office.

I didn’t see Tom again . . . until I got back from vacation last summer. I listened to my messages: “Pastor, this is Tom. I’m 30 days sober and want to come to church. Am I still invited?” I saw Tom every Sunday after that. He completed our new member class. He was overjoyed. “This is my church,” he would tell me. His favorite part of the service was Confession and Absolution. He knew his sin. He loved his Savior.

Tom’s time at our church didn’t last long. Problems at home and his search for a job took him away. Finally, he found a place and a job at a sober living organization. Restrictions in communication have prevented me from talking to or messaging him. I honestly don’t know where he is. What I do know is this. For the short time Tom was at our church, he heard the Word of God proclaim forgiveness of sins through Jesus. God’s kingdom spread.

Do you know someone like Tom? Perhaps you have a similar story to mine. Often, we get to share Jesus with people for just a little while before life takes them away. This helped me learn an important truth about gospel work: It’s about God’s kingdom, not about me.

It’s easy for us to get discouraged. “Why don’t we have more baptisms, adult confirmations, visitors, or worshipers?” “Why did that family have to move away?” It’s not about us or our church. We work for the kingdom of God—so that the message of salvation will be proclaimed, so that people will spend eternity in heaven.

This brings joy and delight into our gospel work. Every candle we light, invitation we give, or person we greet is work done for God. Every time we share Jesus, whether it’s a quick exchange, over a few months, or for many years, God’s kingdom comes. God delights to use us in his plans, and it’s our delight to work for him.

This work is done all the time, whenever we share Jesus or invite someone to hear the good news. Sometimes God grants major victories, as he did to the apostles on Pentecost. But more often, God’s kingdom comes in small, daily, countless victories, as the gospel takes root and grows in hearts. This happens maybe even years after we meet someone. It’s not always for us to know the outcome of our work. It’s our joy simply to do the work God puts before us.

I don’t know where Tom is right now. We aren’t sure what happens with all the invitations, proclamations, and work done for God’s kingdom. I like to say to my church, “That’s above our pay grade.” But we can be confident of this: God’s kingdom comes. May we always joyfully pray, “Your kingdom come.” No work done for God’s kingdom, no matter how small, is ever in vain.

Written by Orie Thomford, home missionary at Our Savior in Burlington, Iowa