Blogging on the Sabbath

I talk a lot about our need to find time for sabbath in our lives, to follow God's Biblical command to rest. However, over the last few weeks, I have not been following my own direction. The massive amount of work I have been producing for my ordination plus my workload at the church plus a two year old has meant that my regular day of sabbath, Friday, has lately been filled with work.

Even though I am taking a moment to post, today is finally a day of rest. I believe that sabbath is more than an act of obedience, it is a gift from God. I don't know about other lifestyles and professions, but I know that I cannot be a very good pastor without time to rest, pray and play, time to be rested and recreated. What many people often appreciate in a pastor is passion, energy, creativity and compassion. Members and visitors of a church often expect sermons that express the gospel in exciting and new ways. People are often energized by new and different class offerings. Christians look to pastors and spiritual leaders who are energized by prayer. Honestly, I don't believe that pastors can maintain and live out these expectations without disciplined, regular and carefully guarded sabbath time.

Perhaps the message is for me as much as anyone. But I hope the lesson I keep learning can be helpful to you. Everyone has expectations put upon them. All of us have ways and times that we need to be creative and energetic, passionate and compassionate. All of us, as Christians, are seeking to root our life in prayer. Are we allowing time for God to be at work at us?

shalom,

will