I wrote this poem during seminary as a way to explore the ELCA’s tagline at the time through my understanding of what I was learning about Lutheran theology.
God’s Work. Our Hands.
Let it ring throughout the land.
The work is God’s, that much is true
But the work gets done by me and by you.
When Jesus came to earth to live
A picture of “God’s Work” he’d give.
“Bring good news, and free the bound”
In Luke chapter 4 these words are found.
“The blind should see, the pris’ner be free
For this work the Spirit chose me.”
And that’s exactly what we mean
When we say, “In Jesus, God is seen.”
So now we know what God wants done—
This work He gave to everyone.
And that’s where you and I come in,
God calls us to be free from sin.
‘Cuz sin, you see, cares not for others,
But others’ needs, in fact, it smothers.
Instead of good, sin’s news is bad
There’s not an ounce of release to be had.
But that’s not how the story ends
Because to earth His Son God sends.
And when we’re washed, as babes or grown
Through baptism, a life of faith is born.
The water put together with Word
Delivers a promise that may sound absurd.
“Adopted child of God” we’re named
And then from there we’re not the same.
We die to all that sinful stuff
And rise with power to face what’s rough.
It’s nothing you or I can do.
It’s something that God does in you.
This bath from God, we need it once,
But you’re like me—a bit of a dunce—
So each new day we come again
And pray to God, New Life to send.
When in your life, God seems far off
There’s no need to sputter and cough.
“I’m baptized! I know that’s true!”
Becomes a saving lifeline for you.
And then each week, with wine and bread,
We come, we kneel, we bow our heads.
Again we hear the words that night
That Jesus used to set things right.
Around the table with disciples he sat.
Jesus broke bread and reminded them that
“My body and blood I give FOR YOU,
There’s really nothing YOU have to do.”
This bread and wine become the means
Through which the gift of grace is seen.
It’s nothing magic, just Word of God,
To many that seems kind of odd.
But a hearing ear and believing heart
Are where the seed of faith will start.
The Holy Spirit does it all,
But we receive it, when on knees we fall.
The work is God’s—do you see that now?
But the hands are ours as heads we bow.
With this gift He sends us out
To one and all, “Good news!” to shout.
So here we’ve learned what God has done
Now to the world we turn and run
And with OUR HANDS we work to heal
And spread the news of God made real.
We heal the sick, we feed the poor
We make disciples from shore to shore.
This work we do is not to earn
God’s favor or salvation in turn.
That work is God’s—that gift is free
And is available for you and for me.
But with and through these hands of mine
To others the light of Christ can shine.
God’s Work. Our Hands.
Let it ring throughout the land.
The work is God’s, that much is true.
But the work gets done by me and by you.