PASTOR’S ARTICLE:

I remember a time in school, not long ago. I was rushing to finish three separate papers and a presentation. I’d been feeling a sort of tightening in my chest. But I also had (what I thought was) a Godsend. Some of my classes for the day had been canceled. So when my early class let out at 9:30, I headed straight for the library to get some work done. Halfway across campus… the big bell rang, “DING…DING…DING.” Just like it does every day at 9:30.

I immediately felt guilty. I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT CHAPEL. How could I have forgotten about God? I’m studying at the Seminary for crying out loud. I mean, the papers I was finishing surely had something to do with the Bible. And yet here was God…calling me through the bell. “DING…DING…DING.” And it began to sink in what He was saying to me. “You can come to Me for rest. You know that tightness in your chest? Yeah…you’re not going to get that to go away by doing more stuff. Working right through chapel… that’s not going to help you any.” In other words, “Don’t just do something…sit there.” I had forgotten.

We need to take time out to remember all of the gifts God has given us…including the gift of time away from routine life!

What gifts has He given us? Well let’s take a look at what we do on a “Sabbath,” let’s take a look at what happens in a small group or Bible study. For one, we pray. God has given us the gift of prayer. We get to talk to God. The Creator of the Universe actually wants to hear what we have to say. That’s what kind of God He is for us. Have you had a bad day? Do you need to unload the week? Have you filled every waking minute, trying to be productive…all so you can get this weight off your chest? Well, take just a moment. Close your eyes. Stop using your hands and fold them. “Don’t just do something…sit there.”

We’re also surrounded with fellow believers. There is a great cloud of witnesses around us! God doesn’t want you to go it alone. That’s what kind of God He is for us. Do you feel like you’re all by yourself? Do you feel like it’s just you against the world? Show up and take a quick look around. God says, “Don’t just do something…sit there.”

So is church or a family devotion time one more thing I have to add to my list? Nope. It’s where I get to unload my list. Is it one more place where I have to struggle to feel like I belong? Nope. It’s where I go to see just how certain it is that I’m not alone. Is this all one more burden to bear… one more thing to feel guilty about doing or not doing? Nope. It’s where God’s Word and forgiveness come to me. So maybe I’ll see you there. Can you believe it? We get to set all of this aside for a bit. We get to spend time with God.

When we take time off to rest, we do better. This is true on a basic physical level. It is also true spiritually. When we live and work in the world… with God close to our hearts and minds… we look forward to our time alone with Him. When we spend time alone with Him, we look forward to reflecting that peace and joy out into the world. Sometimes we need to remember: It’s not a waste of time…don’t just do something… sit there!

Blessings, Pastor Jeremy May