Some more thoughts on Sabbath.
CONTROL.
I think we all want to be in control. Maybe it is are sinful nature or maybe it is human nature. But, it seems that we all want to be the in control. One of the first words that we learn is "mine." "Mine, mine, mine, mine," is just a way of saying "I am in control." "This is mine." "It is all about me, me, me, and I am the one in control." "If it is mine then I control it."
However, you and I, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves, are not ultimately in control. Life has a way of reminding us of this truth. (I won't go into details but I am sure you can think of times in your life that you were reminded that you were not ultimately in control.) God is in control. Sabbath is about us recognizing that fact. Sabbath is about us giving control of our lives to God and giving up the idea that we control it.
Here is something that is amazing about God and the Sabbath. Do you know when the day starts? If we read Genesis and the creation story we discover when God intends for the day to begin.
"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Genesis 1:3-5
According to Genesis, a day begins in the evening. This means that the Sabbath begins with resting. It does not begin with an alarm clock or with work it begins by going to sleep. When we are asleep we can't even fool ourselves into thinking we are in control. The world keeps turning while we sleep. Sleep is that moment that we give up control. We sleep and God works. We sleep, we are not in control, God is. When we wake up in the morning the world is still here. Nothing has been lost because God is in control. The Sabbath begins by given control of our lives and the world over to God. Each day begins by putting our trust in God to sustain us while we close our eyes and sleep.
We can try to control things, and we do. However, if we want to live out our relationship with Jesus in real and tangible ways we must live lives that have a Sabbath rhythm of rest and work. We must understand that ultimately- we are not in control. And we must trust that God is in control and will take care of us even when we can't see how it is going to work out. God cares about you and me and always wants what is best for us. God is love. Love is in control. Let go and let God.
Love today.
In Christ's love and mine,
Doug
I think we all want to be in control. Maybe it is are sinful nature or maybe it is human nature. But, it seems that we all want to be the in control. One of the first words that we learn is "mine." "Mine, mine, mine, mine," is just a way of saying "I am in control." "This is mine." "It is all about me, me, me, and I am the one in control." "If it is mine then I control it."
However, you and I, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves, are not ultimately in control. Life has a way of reminding us of this truth. (I won't go into details but I am sure you can think of times in your life that you were reminded that you were not ultimately in control.) God is in control. Sabbath is about us recognizing that fact. Sabbath is about us giving control of our lives to God and giving up the idea that we control it.
Here is something that is amazing about God and the Sabbath. Do you know when the day starts? If we read Genesis and the creation story we discover when God intends for the day to begin.
"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Genesis 1:3-5
According to Genesis, a day begins in the evening. This means that the Sabbath begins with resting. It does not begin with an alarm clock or with work it begins by going to sleep. When we are asleep we can't even fool ourselves into thinking we are in control. The world keeps turning while we sleep. Sleep is that moment that we give up control. We sleep and God works. We sleep, we are not in control, God is. When we wake up in the morning the world is still here. Nothing has been lost because God is in control. The Sabbath begins by given control of our lives and the world over to God. Each day begins by putting our trust in God to sustain us while we close our eyes and sleep.
We can try to control things, and we do. However, if we want to live out our relationship with Jesus in real and tangible ways we must live lives that have a Sabbath rhythm of rest and work. We must understand that ultimately- we are not in control. And we must trust that God is in control and will take care of us even when we can't see how it is going to work out. God cares about you and me and always wants what is best for us. God is love. Love is in control. Let go and let God.
Love today.
In Christ's love and mine,
Doug
Comments
The human ability to plan is God-given. Shouldn't we use it while being open to God's alternatives?
To plan is not to expect to control. It's to be prepared for whatever God has for us.