Is Your Rest Work?

“I had to work at making it a Sabbath day,” Sandy said.

We laughed while musing about the quirkiness of linking the words “work” and “Sabbath” together.

Sandy was talking about Sabbath in the Seventh Commandment context: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work…”

In practical terms, Sandy follows this by attending church on Sunday and then attempting to make the remainder of the day restful and God focused. But like most of us, she has a never ending to-do list. And it doesn’t go away on Sunday. So when Sandy was taking a much deserved Sunday nap, her brain wanted to churn through all the tasks she could be doing.

Now here’s where the “work” part comes in. Laying there she had to make a definitive decision to resist plunging into her project list. She had to intentionally draw her mind toward trusting God. She worked to the point where she was able to say: “I decided to just lay there and let Jesus take care of me.”

Hebrews 4 focuses significantly on “Sabbath and rest.” Here’s one particularly revealing verse: “Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example.”

What was their example? This was the people Moses led around the desert for forty years. A restless people marked by disobedience to God. They substantially lacked trust and faith in God—a trust that God would take care of them.

Sandy has it figured out. Sabbath and rest equal trust. Trust in God.

Let her words be yours: “I decided to…let Jesus take care of me.”

Credit for Your Account

Dear Ron and Merna,

Nancy and I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you two.

The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord.” Each load of clothes, household item, books, etc. you haul to the Free Store, (the ministry God has given Nancy) and your manner of doing so exemplifies the way all of us should serve Jesus.

We know at one time you had a much more public ministry—pastoring a church and being on the radio. Still, you were willing to do whatever God asked of you. Reminds me of Isaiah the Prophet’s encounter with God. God said, “Who shall I send.” Isaiah quickly
responded, “Send me.”

Ron and Merna, can you imagine how the world would radically change if just half the Christians said, “God send me. Whatever you have for me to do, I’ll do it.”

Sometimes it feels as if nobody sees or cares much about what we do. Sure we should only want God’s recognition. Yet, we’re weak frail humans. Having someone say, “We’re with you. We see what you’re doing. We appreciate what you’re doing,” carries us a long ways through the multiple challenges of serving God.

The hundred dollars you sent, said all those things by your loving action.

And more.

We received well beyond a hundred dollars worth of blessing. God used your gift as a way of significantly uplift our spirits. And the money just plain-old helped us to make-it financially.

Nancy and I agree with the words of the Apostle Paul: “It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account.”

May God richly bless your account for serving and giving with your Jesus-like attitude.

We love you both,
Rick