This lent, I intend on posting a short paragraphs on one or two verses of scripture related to Lent each day. Yesterday this did not happen, instead I enjoyed the bees in the garden. Today I tried to post on Luke 4:3, but the post got deleted, and it was then that I remembered that I had intended on posting on Sabbath.
Genesis 2:1
"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work"
As you read this questions about evolution and creation may arise, but for the time being, lay them aside. I don’t mind if you think the world was created in seven days, or seven periods of time, or that these early chapters are just allegorical. Whatever they are, let’s see what we can learn from the text itself.
In the chapter before, everything had been created and all work done. It was not just completed, but seen to be good, and judged good by the ultimately good (omnibenevolent) God, who would know what is and is not good. On the seventh day God rested and v3 says that it is henceforth made Holy. If we say that God is all mighty (omnipotent) then creation should not have been difficult (since even the hardest of things are easy when done by someone who is infinitely capable). It would therefore be worth asking “Why did God rest?” Was He tiered (in that case, is He limited?).
If you hold to the character of omnipotence, then you are forced to conclude that although God did rest, he did not need to so why do it? Quite simply, it is because he chose to, and it leaves us a wonderful example to also take Sabbath (a day off in 7). From Mid-November until January I only had one or two days off. I was working 6 days a week at Bible College, and doing Saturdays at Boswells. I worked like this to afford the year, and the fruits of this have been a real blessing that Boswells gave me all that work (I miss it). I also wore that schedule like a badge, boasting to myself on how much time off I don’t have or need? I now realise that these few months were unhealthy.
By having a day off a week (we have Saturdays at KTC, but any day will do) we are trusting God. In the same way that getting an early night’s sleep trusts there will be time in the day, taking Sabbath trusts that the world will not stop spinning just because you are not working. Taking time off is essential for our sleep patterns, to be able to relax, process the week, spend time with relations and friends we wouldn’t otherwise see, to enjoy ourselves (and it is not wicked to find enjoyment at all) and spend a day with people and with God without a busy agenda. Finally taking Sabbath does not make you weak. God is the most powerful person imaginable, yet He took a day off. I likewise believe that you are a powerful person if you do or do not have time off in the week. We are so busy in our culture, that it feels wrong to not be busy (and I can own that sentence, feeling often inadequate if I don’t have a list of things to do, then inwardly wishing I had nothing to do), but it is OK to have free time, and you can still have that with a busy life. Taking time off won’t be easy, but it will be good for you and make you more productive through the rest of the week.
In the chapter before, everything had been created and all work done. It was not just completed, but seen to be good, and judged good by the ultimately good (omnibenevolent) God, who would know what is and is not good. On the seventh day God rested and v3 says that it is henceforth made Holy. If we say that God is all mighty (omnipotent) then creation should not have been difficult (since even the hardest of things are easy when done by someone who is infinitely capable). It would therefore be worth asking “Why did God rest?” Was He tiered (in that case, is He limited?).
If you hold to the character of omnipotence, then you are forced to conclude that although God did rest, he did not need to so why do it? Quite simply, it is because he chose to, and it leaves us a wonderful example to also take Sabbath (a day off in 7). From Mid-November until January I only had one or two days off. I was working 6 days a week at Bible College, and doing Saturdays at Boswells. I worked like this to afford the year, and the fruits of this have been a real blessing that Boswells gave me all that work (I miss it). I also wore that schedule like a badge, boasting to myself on how much time off I don’t have or need? I now realise that these few months were unhealthy.
By having a day off a week (we have Saturdays at KTC, but any day will do) we are trusting God. In the same way that getting an early night’s sleep trusts there will be time in the day, taking Sabbath trusts that the world will not stop spinning just because you are not working. Taking time off is essential for our sleep patterns, to be able to relax, process the week, spend time with relations and friends we wouldn’t otherwise see, to enjoy ourselves (and it is not wicked to find enjoyment at all) and spend a day with people and with God without a busy agenda. Finally taking Sabbath does not make you weak. God is the most powerful person imaginable, yet He took a day off. I likewise believe that you are a powerful person if you do or do not have time off in the week. We are so busy in our culture, that it feels wrong to not be busy (and I can own that sentence, feeling often inadequate if I don’t have a list of things to do, then inwardly wishing I had nothing to do), but it is OK to have free time, and you can still have that with a busy life. Taking time off won’t be easy, but it will be good for you and make you more productive through the rest of the week.
Lent is 46 days, not 40, from Pancake Day to Easter Sunday. For some of you, you will keep your lent the entire time, for others you will relax it for that one day. Last night I went out with some friends who I had not seen in a long time, and it was lovely. I did not get to bed at 11pm like planned, but really enjoyed the day of rest, and feel all the better for spending some time with my friends.
God guide
xSx
God guide
xSx
(I'll rewrite Luke 4:3 tomorrow)
Update:
Since starting this blog I became a Counsellor. You can read more on blog on subjects like Therapy at:
www.simonslistening.co.uk
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