Rest

“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” Genesis 2:2-3

“Six days shall you 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, not you animals, nor the alien within your gates.” Exodus 20:8-10

“Be still, and know that I am God….” Psalm 46:10

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10

We have been working our way through marriage and family principles on Sunday morning. Family relationships are complex activities – requiring application of a number of truths to remain healthy – but if I was only allowed to address one, it would be this: Rest.

Endless activity needs to be exposed for what it is: addictive sin. God built us to rest. Relationships require rest. Knowing God requires rest. Working well requires rest and renewal. Our bodies break down, our marriages break down, our kids break down, and we think adding one more activity might solve the situation….

Stop!

Build in margin before it’s too late. Remember our marriage principle: you can change yourself, but only influence others. Start with yourself. Delete an activity (or three). Provide an example to your family. Talk to them about slowing down. Allow change to happen slowly.

God speaks in the stillness (I Kings 19:11-12), but can rarely reach the harried and hasty.

Blessings!

Pastor Al