Message 21: Stephen PART TWO

“So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.”  Acts 6:11-12 (NLT)

I think it took all of 7 minutes for Stephen to give a historical background on the inception of Judaism and within about 31 seconds after that the High Council were dragging him off to stone him to death. He was bold throughout his whole discourse but when he spoke to their rejection of the Holy Spirit…“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”…out came the rocks!!

So it is with us even to this day that we will hurl a thing or two at someone who will remind us that our position on the foundation is shaky. And I think the hurlers are more the religious type than the relationship type. Now whatever do I mean by that? We can find it layered in Stephen’s response to the question, “Are these accusations true?” In three ways Stephen pointed out things that didn’t kinda fit in the entirety of God’s bigger plan.

1. That the Holy Land was the greatest gift given to the Jews and that YHVH only lived and worked there. The funny thing to note here is that after the Exodus God took His people where? The Desert!! (He took them out to the desert to be with His people…how do you get to the promise land without first meeting the Promiser?)

2. That they may have reverence for Moses, the great giver of The Law, but even up to that time they constantly disobeyed him. Even with the simple things…Exodus 16:16-21

3. That YHVH allowed Solomon to build the Temple even though He was quite content with the nomadic life that came with the Tabernacle. And it really was David’s idea in the first place…2Samuel 7:1-7

Now granted that is an Old Testament view-point but if we can give this a New Testament sprucing up and see if this is something that Stephen might say doesn’t quite fit in the entirety of Jesus’ bigger plan.

1. That the Church Building is the greatest gift given to Christians and that we can only meet Jesus there. Very different from what we read in Acts 2:42-47

2. That we may have a reverence for Jesus as the great fulfiller of The Law and The Prophets but we constantly disobey Him. We were given two commandments… Matthew 22:37-40

3. That here in America we are allowed to build churches whenever we want but Jesus Christ desires that He lives in our hearts and goes wherever we go. That’s great Commission stuff right there and think about this, Jesus said He wouldn’t leave us orphaned…John 14:16-18

Basically if we were to boil down everything that Stephen preached before the stones were hurled is that God the Father wanted to make His spiritual habitation within His people…to live in their hearts. And in the very same way God the Son was sent to renew that same idea…to dwell within the hearts of those very same people but it seems that those of us who call ourselves God’s people want our spiritual ideas to prevail over what God the Holy Spirit was sent to do and that to fill the void left from The Fall.

Let’s face it God cannot be contained in a building and if you think differently you will be shown how wrong you are in some way. In Romans 1:20 we read, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” This pretty much says God is in EVERYTHING whether we like it or not. Even in Secularland they want you to see the hand of those who create things like cars or art. The trouble with us is, in both cases, a heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked says, “Oh no, that’s not good enough for me. I’ll change it to fit MY way and not the way it was intended to be.”

As I keep on with this Christian journey I keep finding out that to insure contentment along my way things I do must be Holy Spirit driven, from the simplest to the complex. I will acknowledge that there always seems to be a Stephen on the side of the road to remind me of how it once was however it is to me to change how it is. And does that get done? Yielding to the Holy Spirit and let Jesus take the wheel. Amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 30-32; John 15

Think About This: “The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.”—A.W.Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Look at the Context

Joshua 1:1-9; Mathew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 1:7 2; Timothy 2:15; 3:16,17

When I was a young Christian I would claim Old Testament verses with promises for myself. Then one day a more mature Christian came alongside of me and he asked me if I had looked at the context of the promises. I said no.

He showed me I needed to look at the verses before and after the promise and look in the New Testament to see if the same verse or idea was found there. A verse without a context can become a spoof text.

Let’s look at Joshua 1:9 to see if the promise really does apply to us. The context tells us God tells Joshua, “Moses is dead” and then He appoints Joshua to lead the way to the promised land. God tells Joshua He would be with him. To accomplish the task of capturing the land and distributing it he needed to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:1-6).

In order to be strong and very courageous Joshua needed to observe the Scripture carefully and meditate on it day and night. If he followed the instructions God assured him he would prosper and succeed in obeying the command given to him. Why? Because his adversary would not be able to stand against him all his life, nor would God leave him or forsake him just as he was with Moses (v.5). As a matter of fact, God commanded him, “be strong and courageous do not be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”(v.9). Good News! This idea appears 95 times in the Bible, 24 of those times it is found in the

New Testament. The promise and conditions are ours.

Will you join me in studying and meditating on God’s Word? Will you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you? Will you place your faith in what God promises you to do?

Today’s Affirmation

I will read and meditate on God’s Word in order to be strong and courageous. – Pastor Bob Wood is a pastor-teacher/mentor/prayer warrior and friend of America’s Keswick. You can email him at Dgtbob@aol.com

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 27-29; John 14

Think About This: I would rather die trusting God than live in unbelief. Smith Wigglesworth

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Outside the Camp

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Hebrews 13:13

There’s an idea that at some point a person who struggles with addiction can continue to do everything he did before except indulge in his “drug of choice”. I’ve heard it a hundred times, “I’m gonna go to the bar but only drink soda”, or “I think I’ll hang with my old buddies but won’t get high with them”. It’s only a matter of time.

You don’t have to be an addict to get caught up in worldly things or to walk close enough to the edge of the cliff to fall off. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 13 in closing his letter with an exhortation to separate themselves from their past way of life, be removed from the rituals that they use to do.

I’m not saying that we can never come in contact to the people of our past but I do believe it’s dangerous to make a habit of becoming too relevant with our past. The problem the writer is addressing is the Christian Jews were being drawn back into religious and ceremonial activities that would make the sacrifice of Christ of no value, therefore denying its power.

I know I’m guilty of “falling back” into a comfort zone of the fleshly things I did and even though they aren’t sinful they can become a stumbling block leading to sin. In chapter twelve the first two verses we find the writer telling his readers “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”.

This idea of going “outside the camp” is one of leaving the comforts of the flesh, walking away of the things that ensnares us and even being cast aside and called disgraced. I find that the more we are willing to stand up to the things that matter to God the more “irrelevant” or unaccepted we are in today’s society.

But there is a silver lining, a glimmer of Hope and the one true place where God is leading us when we are willing to cooperate in the sanctification process. John records the promise of Jesus in the Book of Revelation in the letter to the Laodiceans in chapter 3 verse 20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”. It’s the same idea of going outside the camp, where Jesus is, He tells us “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”. I think that’s what the writer of Hebrews means when he says in verses 14,15 “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name”.

This gives me “God bumps”, and should be exciting to you. So go “outside the camp”, where Jesus is and live life to the fullest, Amen! – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick. You can email him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 24-26; John 13:21-38

Think About This: God just doesn’t throw a life preserver to a drowning person. He goes to the bottom of the sea, and pulls a corpse from the bottom of the sea, takes him up on the bank, breathes into him the breath of life and makes him alive. R.C. Sproul

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

An Actual Day in My Life – In Jesus’ Name 

This is an actual journal word for word that I found in my archives; after embracing the concept of doing things in Jesus’ name.

1. Decided to wake early to spend alone time with Lord to establish my day, to stay focus; and simply because I love Him. I believe that the name of Jesus all things should line up with His teaching, His Word, and His values. Consequently, I am flawed; I won’t get it right all the time, but that don’t mean I shouldn’t try. I actually committing this day in the name of Jesus.
2. After my alone time, my day started with my 13-month-old daughter waking in tears. I retrieved her before my wife got up to allow to her to get a little more sleep. Jesus is always looking after others interest. I wanted consider my wife needs, before mine.
3. My wife gets up and now it is time to show the love and kindness that the Lord would display. I greet her with a kiss, and then ask her how is she doing, then proceeded to make breakfast for the family. I believe Jesus serves and feed, my first priority, after God, is my family. I pray that I can always demonstrate the attitude of love toward my family.
4. I decides a couple of days to watch my eating habits, and every meal I ask God, is this good for me or do I need this?
5. Time to go the work. I am a kitchen manger, as well as, a mentor in a Christ-center addiction recovery program. Therefore, as I drive to work, I am inviting God to assist me throughout the ride to work. I am mindful that my driving habits reflect my character; consequently, I still need to work on that. Why do I drive 5miles over the limit, why do I sometimes drive without my seatbelt? That is not driving in the name of Jesus.
6. Working with Christians usually makes it easy to reflect on Jesus, because His presence is heavy throughout all my co-workers. For the most part, we are able to be harmonious in completing the tasks that are on the table. Part of my day is spent counseling/mentoring; I truly believe in my sessions, that it is the wisdom of God that can present hope to these lost souls. Therefore, I ask God for His wisdom, direction, and His grace for the counselee and me.
7. At home, I realize Jesus provided a home, and I need to be a good steward. In that, I clean the house, pay the bills, and decide to sit down eat with the family (which I could do more). Bath time for the little one, and spend time with my wife. As I lend myself, I realize this should be more prevalent in my daily operation.
8. No extra shopping, because our budget is limited, and Jesus would want me to be a good steward of His money.
9. Reading in Jesus name comes easy, because before I came to Christ I did read much. Therefore, all my reading material is Christ centers, even the schoolbooks from LBC have been related to the Word.
10. Watching television is an area I could use a little guidance. Therefore, in Jesus name, I have to monitor what I allow in my thoughts and heart. I reminded of our study verse, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23)
11. Sleeping well or resting is the necessary for health, but too much can be unproductive. With everything, I need to have some type of balance. Before I went to sleep, I took a few minute thanking God for the day, and bless time of rest in the name of Jesus.

Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves there now as a full-time Chaplain. You can email him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 22-23; John 13:1-20

Think About This: I have never met a soul who has set out to satisfy the Lord and has not been satisfied himself.  Watchman Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

We have been dialoging out soul care the past several Monday, and today I want to talk about the word solitude.

A word connected with solitude is the word “still.” I looking up the word “still” here are some of the definitions: remaining in place, at rest, motionless; stationary, free from noise, silent; free from turbulence or commotion; calmness

I am just coming off a week of vacation. I have said this before – I don’t do rest well. I started my vacation last Friday, but it really wasn’t until Wednesday that I was able to start winding down and now today, I hit the ground running.

My guess is that you struggle with this too. But what I am learning is that it isn’t God’s ideal for us to be always in motion (commotion). I need to make a concerted effort to BE STILL, to settle down, to be at rest, so that I can hear from God:

Psalm 4:4: Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Psalm 23:2: He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God!

And here is the kicker – somehow we have bought into the lie that we can keep going on this treadmill. What God has showed me in my study on soul care is that in too many ways I have allowed myself to buy into the enemy’s lie that I can do it better than God.

If God created everything that we know in six days and rested on the seventh, what makes me think I can go 24/7 and always be on?

If Jesus made it a practice to get away to a lonely place for solitude and stillness, what makes me think my life always need to be about hustle and bustle, noise and commotion?

If Jesus was able to break away and sleep even on a boat, what makes me think I can do life trying to get as little sleep as possible?

Do I miss hearing the voice of God because I am so caught up in the stuff of life that I can’t even discern HIS still small voice?

And quite frankly, some of us are afraid of the stillness because we might very well hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts.

We’ve talked about this before – it might mean making a deliberate, intentional commitment to turn off the cell phone, the IPad, the computer, the television – whatever it is that is distracting us from just being still.

Steven Smith in his book, Soul Custody: Choosing to Care for the One and Only You says: We forfeit our souls every single time we choose to drain ourselves and not replenish ourselves; run on empty rather that stopping and intentionally doing the things that will bring us life; burnout rather than live meaningful, significant, and impactful lives that are enjoyable and life-giving to others. We forfeit the life God intended for us when lower our souls to functioning as machines rather than living as soulish marvels who require more than a quart of oil or a recharging of our batteries.

For some of us it’s really quite simple. It’s about just being obedient to “Be still, and know that I am God.”

What are the steps that you can take this week in your life to “be still” and to find some solitude in the midst of the chaos? Would you share how you have learned to be still in your life? The rest of us could benefit for what God has been showing you. – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 20-21; John 12:1-26

Think About This: Can you put your arms about Jesus’ neck and just rest there? – Steven W. Smith

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Living in the Moment

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15,16

Have you ever taught a child to walk? If so you know there are beginning stages and then comes the fine tuning. First it’s just a matter of gaining balance and not falling, then comes the teaching of watching where you’re going and then of course comes running.

I think the Christian walk can be compared to teaching a child to walk. In the beginning of their journey new believers sometimes will begin to look for a balance between how they lived and the new life in Christ. It can be a bit confusing to someone who is new to the faith to understand that it’s really nothing they are doing but just seeing that God has given us everything we need. Like a child who already has legs and feet, they just have to begin the experience.

Then we have this idea of “living in the moment”, not looking back or getting ahead of ourselves but “redeeming the time” by moving forward and taking what God has for us right now.

After teaching my kids to walk they would often have their head turned behind them as they walked forward, not good, the chances of running off course and hitting something are greatly increased. Then there’s not looking down at your path but worrying about what lies ahead and tripping over the unseen. All these examples are characterized in our walk with the Lord.

The idea of redeeming the times is one of making the best use of time, no longer wasting it with things that are in the past or what may happen in the future that you have no control over. Redeem the time, stop wasting it, and live in the moment. That’s why it’s called “the present”, it’s a gift, and like an unopened present it will never be useful.

Not that we aren’t supposed to plan or try to make the mistakes of our past right but when we are focused on the things that are out of our control it is a thief of the time that God has given us and we allow worry and anxiety to handcuff us. Paul tells us in Philippians 4,

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14-15; John 11:1-29

Think About This: Unbelief seizes truth, grasps it roughly, silences its voice and twists it away from God’s intended purpose. —Os Guinness

Transformation

John 9:1-41 

How much of what you know about the Lord Jesus Christ is shaped by a wrong focus? Wrong focus distorts how others see our transformation. The transformed life is a life focused on Jesus. What is the process of our transformation?

Jesus really sees the blind man but the disciples clung to tradition(vv. 1-3).

Transformation, from start to finish, is completely the work of God and for His glory. The Creator, re-creates, His creation, His creation returns a completely new man. Man, formed from the dust, receives both physical and spiritual life from God’s Spirit (water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit). Transformation begins with a simple act of obedience(vv.4-7).

Your family, friends and neighbors are skeptical about the change because they remember the old creation. But you are a new creation. So they ask, “How did this happen?”(vv. 8-11). Many times our first testimony focuses on what not Who.

The word about you gets out. The spiritual leaders keep an eyes on you. So do their minions. What happened to you, happened on the wrong day. And, you ask the wrong questions!  The leaders had a powerful influence on the members of the synagogue so people that should have stood up for the man did not do it. Why? They feared people more than God. He boldly defends Jesus.  The result was the leaders gave the man boot while the people stood by (vv.13-34).

I think of Chuck Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship, and how he was treated when he first became a Christian. I’m glad there were some people, who encouraged him. Many prisoners have become Christians through the ministry of Prison Fellowship.

The man’s transformation required follow up, so the man could grow in his relationship with Jesus. Have our churches become weak because we spend more time criticizing new believers than nurturing them? Does our transformation cause us to worship the Lord Jesus Christ daily? Is the light of the knowledge God growing in us? Is it being tempered by the love of God? Are we left in our own guilt by self-righteousness?(vv.35-41).

Will you join me, as a transformed creation, letting your light shine in a dark world?

Today’s Affirmation:

I will fix my eyes on Jesus so His light will shine through me. Pastor Bob Wood is a mentor/Pastor-teacher. You can email him at Dgtbob@aol.com

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 11-13; John 10:24-42

Think About This: Faith is like Radar that sees through the fog – the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see. Corrie Ten Boom

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

Message 21: Stephen PART ONE

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”  Acts 6:8 (ESV)

There is no doubt in my mind that, at times, there is a need to tell it like it is. Now in my own personal past I have let that need turn into catastrophe but I’m getting better at (I think). But there was one such fellow who’s “telling it like it is” mentality got him stoned to death (talk about a catastrophe) and that fellows name is Stephen. We meet Stephen in the 6^th chapter of The Book of Acts. He is picked to serve as one of the early churches first deacons and within no time in the chapter (vv9) he was debating on behalf of the recently crucified Savior we all know as Jesus Christ.

Now we all remember Caiaphas, the high priest who prophetically condemned Jesus with his statement, “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:50) Whether Caiaphas liked it or not, it wasn’t the end nor was it going to be the end of “The Way”…it was just getting started and it was building up enough steam to drive an engine of faith that scared the father of lies himself, Satan. So what’s an evil boy to do but to try and twist fate?

Witness Lee would write “that Judaism had fallen into the hands of God’s enemy, Satan, and was being used by him to frustrate God’s move in His New Testament economy for the carrying out of His eternal purpose.” Now before we get all outta sorts with this let’s examine this. Jesus was making it clear that with all the legalism Judaism was practicing, its leader had become rather white-washed in His eyes.  Now I think the key word to bring up here is “vanity”. The religious leaders of that time thought themselves more highly then they ought to and when Jesus poked at it, it hurt (the next key word to bring up here) their “pride”.  And an overwhelming sense of “How dare you say that to me” welled up inside of them…especially Caiaphas.

So now here’s Stephen, closer to being an Apostle more than a deacon, going around doing good stuff for people (as Jesus would instruct all of us to do) and gaining a reputation for it. He is confronted by a bunch of guys who are from the Synagogue of the Freedmen and they can’t crack Stephen’s wisdom or cope with the Spirit that he was able to speak in. So what’s an evil group of wanna-be’s to do but to drag Stephen off to face…Caiaphas. Then an interesting parallel occurs. People are brought before the “Council” to give false witness against Stephen, just like what was done to Jesus. I can almost see Caiaphas roll his eyes in disgust that he has to seemingly deal with this again.

So what was Caiaphas really dealing with then? Was it crazy people who wanted to rebel against The Temple? NO!! Was a small group of people who just wanted attention (like our celebrities do today)? NO!! Was it The Romans? Eh…that’s a stretch but NO!! Caiaphas was dealing with something that only the Old Testament servants were chosen to receive and that was The Holy Spirit. Had Caiaphas given the words of Jesus Christ the chance to pierce his heart he would have understand how to guide a hurting people back to YHVH but his undealt with vanity, pride and jealousy kept his eyes rolling in disgust as Stephen reminded him of Israel’s folly and falling away.

Watchmen Nee wrote, “When the Holy Spirit falls upon God’s people there will be some things which the world cannot account for. There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the divine Presence. We cannot and we must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take in any given case, but one thing is sure, that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will unfailingly knew it.” Stephen had it…Caiaphas didn’t.

I hope you take a moment to study through the Acts of the Apostles because I think it is time that the 21^st century church take a look at its 1^st century roots and see what normal Christian living was all about. “And what was it all about Chris?” you might be asking. It was about Holy Spirit living, something I feel that my own life, at times, fails in portraying. Does yours? I pray we all get on our knees and receive that which Jesus freely gives…The Spirit Outpoured. Amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and blogs weekly for Freedom Fighter. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 8-10; John 10:1-23

Think About This: “By the time the average Christian gets his temperature up to normal, everybody thinks he has a fever.”—Watchmen Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

Revolution from within’ produces ‘revolution from without’

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

I had the opportunity to do my testimony in an unusually large volume this month. It was great to see God grace in my life, encourage and meet others in their place of their need. He was at work restoring and motivating people to make decisions. Challenging others to aid one another in the struggle, and reminding people of the depravity of sin.

However, God was dealing with me differently. The more I shared my past hurts, pains, and uncomfortable circumstances it invoked uncomfortable emotions within. But as I process through why I felt, what I felt; there was gem that God was showing me. He was exposing me to the process or sanctification of Christ within my life. And where I was in Christ 10 years ago was different than where I was 9 years ago; and so forth.

The inward man, the higher call of God was being renewed within me. The inner life became the control mechanism that directed my lives into Godliness. Renewing my strength. As my body fades, I am being purified, sanctified, and glorified. Trusting this reality sustains when life gets messy, it encourage me/us to live in victory; boldly approaching life on life terms.  And the older I get, my testimony evolves into a new song. My life is not defined by outward appearance, but the inward life unto righteousness.

Call me legalistic, but this God entered into my inner life; it should produce a very different light. How can we claim to have the Holy Spirit invade our inner life and not produce? The reality; change is inevitable. Let’s allow the revolutions within produce a revolution without! Chaplain Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves there full-time. You can email him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 5-7; John 9:24-41

Think About This: The surrender to His supremacy, His glory, His will, His pleasure, ought to be the first and uppermost thought of life. Andrew Murray

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: In the multitude of my anxieties within me,  Your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

Sabbath Rest

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

At 61 I should have learned this lesson by now. I’ve told you before that I am a very slow learner.

I don’t do rest well. Part of my upbringing was that we always had to be doing something. If we weren’t always doing something, we were lazy.

Life was always a flurry of activity in our house. We were very connected to the church. If the doors were open, we were expected to be there. We never heard about Sabbath rest. Sabbath was just another day to pack in more activity: Church, Sunday School, meetings in the park, youth group, Sunday evening church, and then there was some activity after church. Rest? Not in your life.

But I am learning the hard way that there comes a point of no return when it all this flurry and hurry catches up with you. This is not life the way God intended it to be. Work is very much part of life. God addresses work in the Bible. But He also speaks about rest and the need for it.

Somehow in our own deceived ways, we have bought into the lie that we don’t need to rest. We pack as much into our lives as we can and wonder why we have no energy, why life seems to be flying by, and for some, it is like a merry-go-round that we can’t get off.

Dr. Mark Swenson says that we have failed to build rest and margin into our lives, and sooner or later, it will catch up.

Some of us actually have bought into the lie that we always need to be available. I’ve been there. But Stephen Smith says that “being so available sets us up to live our lives in the illusion that we are more important than we actually are. We think I might be needed. I need to be available I may know something that someone else wants.”

He goes on to say that “Sabbath is humanity’s reminder, every seven days, that through resting, ceasing, and unyoking ourselves from the world and work, we gain something that we cannot have by working harder … We cannot sustain the pace by living in a rhythm that is other that what God has modeled and demonstrated for us … Sabbath is our weekly opportunity to reassess the speed and the trajectory of our lives and make adjustments to stay on course.”

If the God of the universe after spending six days creating the world as we know it, and on the seventh day rested, what makes me think that I can work seven days and not rest?

I am not here to tell you how to do this. Is Sabbath rest for you on Sunday, or is it another day? We don’t have the space to debate all that. BUT I do know this – God wants us to rest and enjoy the recreating our bodies and minds. It’s something to think about.

How do you spend your Sabbath? What have you learned about Sabbath rest that could be a benefit to the rest of us? – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 3-4; John 9:1-23

Think About This: Consistent availability to people and the world is one of the greatest threats to our soul. Steven W. Smith

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19