Rest and the Christian life?
When do you rest? If you're like most Americans, rest in the middle of an average day or week can be difficult to come by. The pressures of family life, life at work and/or school, and maintaining good friendships can be overwhelming at times. Yet, time and again, we see Jesus bearing witness to the fact that we must develop a regular pattern of 'stopping life' altogether. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, but his whole life was spent resting and 'abiding in the Father.'
What do you think the scriptures have to say about the rapid pace of life that we keep here in America? Ellen Davis, a biblical scholar at Duke Divinity School, has suggested that, for a Christian, 'the first thing we must learn about work is when to stop working.' When God created the earth, he rested on the seventh day from his labors. How can begin practicing rest and renewal in 21st America? What struggles do we face in getting to the place where rest is a daily and weekly reality?
Ok...now it's time to hear from some of you. Hope that we can begin talking!
Jack
What do you think the scriptures have to say about the rapid pace of life that we keep here in America? Ellen Davis, a biblical scholar at Duke Divinity School, has suggested that, for a Christian, 'the first thing we must learn about work is when to stop working.' When God created the earth, he rested on the seventh day from his labors. How can begin practicing rest and renewal in 21st America? What struggles do we face in getting to the place where rest is a daily and weekly reality?
Ok...now it's time to hear from some of you. Hope that we can begin talking!
Jack
posted by Theophany@Church Street | 3:01 PM
5 Comments:
thanks for the thoughts, dan. certainly gave me some things to consider, especially what we consider 'working hard.' Would like to hear more about that as well.
For me, I think Sabbath is a day, as you said, where we cannot work. Not even an option. As I was thinking a little more about this, I thought our Sabbath rest is a day to renew our relationships. Jews spend the Sabbath with family; they also spend it worshipping God. Maybe for us it means much the same thing...renewing relationships, playing together, worshipping together, and most importantly, renewing our relationship and covenant with God.
Jack
Harlan,
Thanks for calling our attention back to the commandments. Those commandments are given as a way of life and I think it's right on to say that we should expect Sabbath behavior from Christians and Jews; we shouldn't have the same expectations for those who don't embrace the commandments.
As I was reading your comments, the one question that came into my mind was this: is this really an issue of trust in our lives? Do we trust God to restore and renew us? Do we trust the fact that we are small and the world we continue if we choose to stop an honor God for a day?
Maybe the issue here is an issue of trust...for that we need to ask the Spirit's help.
Thanks for the insights, Harlan!
Jack
Because I am a rather low energy person - or at least I find I get tired quite easy - I have always been drawn to the 'rest' verses in the Bible. I am now an older Christian and I have found through trial and many errors, that our LORD does use me more when I truly abide in Him. Then He always bears fruit in and through me and it isn't me, it is Him and His fruit. Abiding in Christ doesn't come easy in this world of high energy, get it done right now, compete, etc. It takes prayer and meditation and I must admit I don't always abide as I should, but it exciting to see and feel God's presence working in my life when I do the 'work' of abiding and resting and trusting and obeying Him.
To respond to a few comments...
1. I'm not really worried about the blog being overwhelming, simply because I'm confident that the Spirit will facilitate the discussion...in other words, I won't take the approach of trying to 'control' the conversation. Actually, hosting this blog will be light work for me. All I want to do is start the conversation with questions. Conversations are good and I hope that souls seeking Jesus will direct the subjects and thoughts we discuss, i.e. community led discussion. I'm trusting that the Spirit is doing something through this and will be blessed to simply read more helpful insights from all of you.
2. The one thought I would like to offer to Harlan's thought is that the Greek word for 'belief' is also translated as 'trust' in many instances of the Gospels. In other words, the Gospel writers, especially John, don't make much of a distinction between belief and trust. An interesting thought for meditation within our own souls and emotional lives....
3. I agree with Harlan. Enjoyed reading the post from our anonymous contributor. Found that is was restful and encouraging just listening to your experience. May the Lord bless you and use you...where you are, based on who you are.
Jack
I have really enjoyed the dialogue of each of you. I don't have a lot to say this morning, but thought you might enjoy something I read. I am quite often touched in my devotion times by the words of Oswald Chambers and this is part of one of his writings which I read this morning:
There was no "show business" in the life of the Son of God, and there is to be no "show business" in the life of the saint. Concentrate on God, let Him engineer circumstances as He will, and wherever He places you He is binding up the brokenhearted through you, setting at liberty the captives through you, doing His mighty soul-saving work thorugh you, as you keep rightly related to Him. Self-conscious service is killed, self-conscious devotion is gone,only one thing remains-"witnesses to Me," Jesus Christ first, second and third.
Do you find as I do that your default person is that ole sin nature? And I must come daily, moment by moment to the cleansing fountain of the blood of our Savior to keep me and mold me into His likeness.
God is so good. May each of you feel His presence in your lives this day and may God bless our learning of His will.
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