Dear Faith Family,
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
(James 1:17)
Rest, especially for the soul, is difficult to find these days. Even when our paid labors take a break, the seemingly endless list of "To Dos" floods our thoughts; the fear of missing out on the freedom to enjoy, to experience clouds our calendar, and the ease of entertainment, always and only a click away, beckons us to the fatigue of vegging. Rest in today's world, while deeply desired, seems like a destination we'll never arrive.
Ironically, our faith contends that rest is not something we arrive at, but rather arrives as a gift each week—a gift the wise receive.
The wise, as James has told us, recognize what they are not – sovereign over their own lives or the lives of others. At the same time, the wise recognize that who they are and are becoming is a gift of self-giving love accompanied by merciful patience. And so, as James has told us, the wise not only put off what is false—not truly good—of themselves, of God, of others, but in doing so,
"receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save [their] souls." (James 1:21)
And so, the wise are able to live good, a good and true life, "show[ing] [their] works through the meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13)
To live rightly, well, for the flourishing of the earth (not just ourselves), requires that we not only submit to what is the unchanging good, but receive it. For,
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
(James 1:17)
"To keep the Sabbath," says Bobby Gross, "is to both obey a command and receive a gift." [1] At the "very good" of creation, God gave us a day of rest, a day set aside to receive before we give. A day and a "space to focus our attention" on who God the giver is and what He has graced us with. A day to express thanksgiving, to worship with joy, reflect with gratitude, and look ahead in certain hope. And in our receiving, be "renewed as whole persons (body, mind, heart, and will: soul)."
To sabbath is to stop doing everything (or nothing), and receive everything. Everything our souls need to live rightly, fully, well, and wise. So, what is keeping you and me from resting?
I invite you to consider the soon-to-arrive rest of a day made for you. What will you do this coming Sabbath? Will you be filling it or receiving it?
May we choose the latter, and find the wisdom of sabbathing, of receiving that which has been gifted us.
Love you, faith family. God bless.