 |
| Not too long ago, I did something that I�ve wanted to do for a long time. I had not been able to fulfill this desire due to the responsibilities that I had as pastor of a church where I had ministry obligations to meet each Sunday. What was this desire? It was to take my 88 year-old Aunt Edith to church and worship with her on the Lord�s Day. We had a grand time together worshipping with the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The service was beautiful and the sermon about putting new wine into new wineskins was inspiring But, we almost did not make it into the sanctuary. As we passed through the outside breezeway, a man flew out of a door and ran into my aunt almost knocking her down. In his hurry to go wherever he was going, he did not even stop to apologize or pause to see if she was all right. I have thought about that incident, and it continues to bother me. Is it a symptom of our times that hurried, harried, and task-oriented people rush around not caring about knocking the weaker person over? I believe that it is. The work is more important than the worker is and the product is more important than the person is. This attitude of action carries over into the church as well. A member rushes frantically from one place to the next as if he is still at work bumping over anyone in his way. Even some in the church emphasize the mission over the ministers who carry out the mission. Every night is booked. Every weekend is taken. Service becomes more important than the soul and that opens the door for fatigue and failure. The greatest risk of injury in a sports contest comes from fatigue. The greatest risk of moral and spiritual failure for the Christian comes from fatigue. The wonderful narrative of Jesus� visit to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Luke 10:38-42 reminds us of this great truth. Martha complained to Jesus by criticizing her sister, Mary, for not serving. Mary, you will recall, was sitting at the feet of Jesus in fellowship and enjoying the edification of his teaching. Jesus commended Mary and criticized Martha when he said, ��but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (NIV). I have a friend who works long and hard hours and also faithfully serves his church. Recently, I noticed that he was no longer on this committee or that committee. I asked why. He replied that he was gone all day Sunday and almost every night of the week. That plus his job was leading to his soul�s starvation. He told me that he was going to keep his Sunday School class with the younger teens and just focus on them. That in itself could consume four or five hours a week or more when you think of the ministry, outreach, Sunday School meetings, and preparation in prayer and study. He needed time for soul renewal so that he could adequately respond in the service to his class. I don�t think Jesus would have almost knocked down my aunt at church. He was never in a hurry, and he was always in command of himself. That�s because he was God of course, and God is never in a hurry and is always in control. I believe Jesus would have taken time to go out of his way to speak to and care about Aunt Edith. He would have known that she was a widow and perhaps personally escorted her to her seat making sure that she was comfortable and taken care of. He would have known that she and her late husband were charter members of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, that has grown into a great church blessing the lives of thousands for the kingdom of God. He would have known how she and Uncle Robert helped me in the lowest point of my life back in the early 80�s. But, our friend who was in such a rush last Sunday missed all of that and missed a blessing of getting to know my remarkable aunt. We always miss the blessing when hustle and bustle take the place of relationships, meditation, and reflection. Sometimes, the Lord has to make us slow down to feed our soul. David captured this when he wrote in Psalm 23:2-3, �He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul� (NIV). If you have time to rest and restore beside the still, quiet waters this week, rejoice and be fed. If not, take time. Your soul needs to be fed. Jesus� invitation is for you, �Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV). There is a place of quiet rest, A place where sin cannot molest, There is a place of comfort sweet, A place where we our Savior meet, There is a place of full release, A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God. -Cleland B. McAfee |
| Subscribe to eSpir-ations at no cost through this link. |
Sample 2 Rest and Renew by Rev. Dan White |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |