Labor of Love

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Most today seem to view Labor Day as the “unofficial end of summer” and one last day at the pool or beach.

As you ‘labor” this Sunday in the work of the Lord and gospel ministry, I pray we will be encouraged by the reminder of the Lord Jesus’ labor of love to redeem and rescue the souls of men and women, boys and girls. For our encouragement as co-laborers in the Lord, consider again the words of the Lord Jesus from the Cross as He labored for our salvation.

The seven statements that Jesus Christ made on the cross were (not in any particular order):

(1) “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

(2) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

(3) “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

(4) “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

(5) “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” (John 19:26)

(6) “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

(7) “It is finished!” (John 19:30)

Thank You Lord Jesus for Your labor of love, for Your work on the Cross!