THE TENDER COMMANDMENTS – SERIES

OCTOBER 5TH, 2003

PART 5- “A TIME TO REFLECT”

I’M GOING TO TAKE THE STUDY OF THIS 4TH COMMANDMENT TODAY AND TAKE IT FROM A SOMEWHAT PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE …..BUT I WANT YOU TO APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE AS WELL!!!

AND THERE’S NO SENSE DENYING IT IN FRONT OF YOU ANY LONGER……..BUT I’VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

TO BEGIN WITH…..I’VE HAD TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS SABBATH THING SHOULD EVEN BE ONE OF THE “THE TEN” 

THINK ABOUT IT….

THE LORD IS GOING TO GIVE TEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS - - SO IMPORTANT TO HIS HEART AND TO THE LIFE OF HIS PEOPLE…..THAT HE WILL LITERALLY WRITE THEM IN STONE WITH HIS FINGER!!!…..

AND HAND DELIVER THEM ON A MOUNTAINTOP!!!

AND WITH ALL THE CRUCIAL….CRITICAL THINGS IN THE WORLD THAT HE MIGHT HAVE SAID……………….

HE MAKES……….’REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY” NUMBER 4!!!

NOT 47…….NOT 202………..

IF I HAD BEEN WRITING THIS……….I KNOW IT’S IMPORTANT…..

BUT ALONGSIDE MURDER AND ADULTRY AND COVETING YOUR NEIGHBORS WIFE………..

IN MY MIND IT WASN’T THAT IMPORTANT!!!

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THE LORD MAKE A LAW EMPHASIZING REST AND A SPECIAL DAY!!!

AND THERE’S A NOTHER REASON WHI I STRUGGLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMMANDMENT…..

I FEEL A GREAT AND BURNING SENSE OF URGENCY IN MY LIFE THESE DAYS!!!

I AM GETTING OLDER….

THERE IS SO MUCH I FEEL NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED YET IN MY MINITRY….

AND THE MINISTRY OF THIS CHURCH…..

I FIND IT DIFFICULT NOT TO THINK ABOUT WORK!!!

I KNOW THAT LIFE IS FRAGILE…..THAT TIME IS SHORT………AND WELL…..THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO!!!

BESIDES…..I’M A PASTOR…….SO IT’S GOD’S WORK THAT I’M INVOLVED WITH ISN’T IT???

SO WHY DOES HE GIVE THIS PARTICULAR COMMAND IN HIS HOLVE!!!

WHY DID HE WRITE IT DOWN IN HIS “FATHER KNOWS BEST” BOOK FOR YOU AND FOR ME???

I LOVE MY JOB……..I LOVE PASTORING….

I LOVE THE LORD’S PEOPLE….

I LOVE MY RESPONSIBILITIES…..

I LOVE BEING A SHEPHERD

AND THROUGH THE YEARS…..FOR COUNTLESS WEEKS AT A TIME…..I HAVE BEEN AT THE CHURCH SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!!!

NOT FIVE….NOT SIX…..BUT EVERY DAY!!!

BUT LATELY…….I HAVE HEARD THE LORD TELLING ME THESE ARE NOT HIS 10 SUGGESTIONS!!!

THAT I HAVE VIOLATED HIS SABBATH PRICNIPLE FOR MY LIFE

I AM HEARING HIM SAY….”I LOVE YOU SON,,BUT THIS IS NOT AN OPTION FOR YOU”!!!

MY RESPONSE….

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS…

SO MUCH HURT….

SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY…

SO MANY OPEN DOORS!!!

AND SOMEHOW I KEEP WRESTLING WITH THE IDEA THAT GOD ‘NEEDS’ MORE AND MORE OF ME TO GET HIS WORD DONE!!!

BUT THE TRUTH IS…..I NEED MORE AND MORE OF HIM!!!1

AS THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THE CONDITION OF FAMILIES BECOMES MORE DESPERATE….AND THE DEMANDS OF THE MINISTRY GO THROUGH THE ROOF, I NEED MORE OF HIS PEACE….

MORE OF HIS JOY….

MORE OF HIS TENDERNESS….

MORE OF HIS TOUGH LOVE……

MORE OF HIS WISDOM….

MORE OF HIS RESURRECTION LIFE FLOWING THROUGH ME!!!

AND THE SIMPLE FACT IS HE ISN’T GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME IN ONE-MINUTE BURSTS BETWEEN SERVICES OR COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS!!!

HE WANTS TIME WITH ME

HE WANTS TO WALK WITH ME

HE WANTS TO SHARE HIS HEART WITH ME…

HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP!!!

REMEMBER WHAT DAVID SANG ABOUT THE LORD/

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

I SHALL NOT WANT

HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES

HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS….

HE RESTORES MY SOUL!!!!

HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN!!!1

IF YOU DON’T LIE DOWN AND REST…..

IF YOU DON’T SEEK OUT THOSE QUIET PASTURES AND STILL WATERS WITH YOUR SHEPHERD…….IT IS NOT BEYOND HIM TO MAKE YOU!!!

YOU SAY…”WELL…I DON’T BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD DO THAT”!!!

THEN YOU DON’T KNOW GOD!!!

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS FATHER LOVE!!!

IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN AND REST…..THEN LOOK AROUND AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE AND FIND OUT WHY YOU’RE IN THE CONDITION YOU’RE IN!!!

MAYBE HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK!!!!

AND PLEASE NOTE….THE WORDS…..”HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN……..COME BEFORE THE WORDS….”HE RESTORES MY SOUL”

IT IS AS WE ENTER INTO HIS REST THAT WE EXPERIENCE HIS WONDERFUL HEALING TOUCH ON OUR LIVES!!!

RESTORATION IS NEITHER QUICK NOR CHEAP!!!!

OUR LORD GAVE THESE PRINCIPLES TO US IN LOVE….FOR OUR PROTECTION.

THE FIRST THREE COMMANDMENTS CONCERN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS GOD WHO LOVES US!!!

WE SHOULD PUT HIM FIRST!!!

WE SHOULD NEVER ALLOW ANYTHING IN BETWEEN THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!!

WE SHOULD NEVER PUT OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM….OR TURN TO ‘OTHER OPTION’!!!

HE MUST BE FIRST!!!!

WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO NEVER DISHONOR HIS NAME….BUT RATHER TO SPEAK TENDERLY AND TURTHFULLY OF HIM….AS HE SPEAKS OF US!!!

AND THE SABBATH????

MAYBE THE LORD WANTS US TO USE THIS INTERVAL OF REST…….TO ACCOMPLISH SEVERAL THINGS!!!

PERHAPS THIS BREAK FROM PRESSURE AND ROUTINE DURING THE WEEK IS A TIME TO JUST SIT DOWN ….BE QUIET, AND WHILE NO ONE IS AROUND…

ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS!!!

Lord, are you really first in my life

Lord, is there anything between You and me?

When I’m in trouble and facing hardships and difficulties, do I turn to You?

Lord, could it be that I’ve created some other god and images that somehow satisfy me and fulfill my needs?

Have I dishonored your name this week or spoken lightly of you?

Do I love you less today than I did a week ago – a year ago?

NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE…..GIVING OURSELVES OVER TO WORKAHOLISM, OR NONSTOP ACTIVITIES CAN BE A GREAT TEMPTATION!!!

OVERWORK IS CELEBRATED BY SOME AND DEMANDED BY OTHERS!!!

IF YOU OWN YOUR OWN COMPANY, YOU’VE MADE A GREAT INVESTMENT SO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO PRESS THE LIMITS OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRENGTH TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS!!!

BUT GOD HAS MADE A GREAT INVESTMENT IN US TOO!!!

PETER SAID IT THIS WAY:

FOR YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS SILVER OR GOLD THAT YOU WERE REDEEMED FROM THE EMPTY WAY OF LIFE HANDED DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR FOREFATHERS, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST  (1 PETER 1:18-19)

IN AGRICULTURE, THEY TELL ME THAT EVEN DIRT NEEDS TO REST!!!

IF YOU HAVE ANY FARMING IN YOUR BACKGROUND YOU WILL KNOW THAT FARMERS DON’T PLANT THE SAME THINGS IN THE SAME FIELDS YEAR AFTER YEAR!!1

THEY MAY PLANT CORN ONE YEAR, BUT THE NEXT YEAR THEY’LL PLANT BEANS ON THE SAME PARCEL OF GROUND

WHY??

BEC THE CORN WILL TAKE CERTAIN NUTRIENTS OUT OF THE SOIL AND THE BEANS WILL PUT EM BACK IN !!1

IF A FARMER CAN AFFORD IT…..HE WILL LET WHOLE TRACTS OF GROUND LIE FALLOW FOR A YEAR OR MORE AND NOT PLANT ANYTHING!

WHY?

BEC THE LAND BENEFITS FROM THE REST!!!

AFTER A YEAR OR TWO OF LYING EASY UNDER WIND AND RAIN, SNOW AND SUN, IT YEILDS A GREAT MORE BOUNTIFUL CROP!!!

IMAGINE THAT!!!

EXODUS 20:11 SAYS THAT IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE THE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, AND RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY!!!

DO YOU THINK IT’S POSSIBLE THE LORD MIGHT HAVE SOME INSIGHTS INTO HIS OWN CREATION??

DO YOU THINK IT’S POSSIBLE HE MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOU AND ME THAT WE TEND TO FORGET???

I THINK GOD HAD A GREAT PLAN IN MIND WHEN HE SPOKE THIS FOURTH COMMANDMENT!!!

GOD KNOWS THAT IF WE GET SO BUSY AND AHEAD OF OURSELVES THAT WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR HIM…..WE’LL SIMPLY WEAR OUT AND WEAR DOWN!!!

DAVID AS USUAL SAID IT SO WELL:

JUST AS A FATHER HAS COMPASSION ON HIS CHILDREN SO THE LORD HAS COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM

FOR HE HIMSELF KNOWS OUR FRAME HE IS MINDFUL THAT WE ARE BUT DUST!!!

WE’RE MADE OUT OF DUST…..AND AS I TOLD YOU A MOMENT AGO …..EVEN DIRT NEEDS TO REST!!!!!

WE ARE ALWAYS THE LOSERS WHEN WE TRY TO RUN AHEAD OF GOD….STRIVING TO MAINTAIN A FASTER PACE THAN HE DESIRES!!!

THERE IS A STORY I LIFE VERY MUCH ABOUT A WEALTHY AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR WHO WENT ON A HUNTING SAFARI IN AFRICA.

HE CHOSE SEASONED GUIDES AND HIRED LOVAL TRIBAL MEN TO CARRY THE NECESSARY GEAR.

AGGRESSIVE AND DRIVEN…..THE BUSINESS MOGEL WANTED TO GO MUCH FASTER THAN HIS GUIDE FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY!!!

AND EVERY DAY AFTER THAT…..HE PUSHED AND PUSHED AND DROVE HIS BEWILDERED SAFARI TEAM FROM MORNING TO NIGHT UNTIL THEY COULD HARDLY STAND!!!

FINALLY THE BURDEN BEARERS COULD GO NO FATHER!!!

THEY WOULD NOT STIR FROM WHERE THEY SULLENLY RECLINED IN THE SHADE ONE MORNING.

THE AMERICAN TYCOON WHO WAS USED TO INSTANT OBEDIENCE WAS FURIOUS!!!

YELLED AT THEM TO GET UP AND PUSH ON!!!……CALLED THEM BUMS AND WORSE!!!

BUT THEY ALL JUST SAT THERE NOT EVEN MEETING HIS EYES!!!

THE IMPATIENT MAN STORMED AT HIS GUIDE…..”WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE….WHY WON’T THEY GO ON??

THE GUIDE REPLIED….”THEY MUST STAY HERE ALL DAY….THEY WON’T MOVE……NO MATTER HOW MUSH YOU SHOUT AND BULLY.  WE HAVE BEEN GOING TOO HARD AND FAST…..AND WE MUST LET OUR SOULS CATCH UP TO OUR BODIES”!!!!

SOME OF US RUN AHEAD OF GOD….EVEN WHILE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES!!!

SOME OF US…….HAVE PUSHED ON AND ON AFTER GOD SAYS “rest”!!!!!

THAT’S WHY SUSAN CAN SOMETIMES WAVE HER HAND IN FRONT OF MY EYES AND SAY….”HELLO…….ARE YOU IN THERE……IS ANYBODY HOME???

THAT’S WHY PEOPLE CAN BE PHYSICALLY AND BODILY IN CHURCH BUT BE ‘CHECKED OUT’ MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY!!!!

THAT’S WHY PEOPLE CAN BE WITH THEIR KIDS IN SOME ACTIVITY BUT NOT REALLY BE ‘THERE’ AT ALL!!!

IF WE MAKE THE LORD OUR PRIORITY….ABIDE IN HIM, AND WALK IN STEP WITH HIM…..HE’LL HELP OUR HEARTS TO CATCH UP!!!!

PAUL SAID IT THIS WAY IN GAL 5:22….

SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT…….LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT!!!!  (NIV)

I LIKE THAT!!!

SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT WE MIGHT AS WELL KEEP IN STEP WITH HIM!!!

WE MIGHT AS WELL STAY CLOSE TO HIM!!!

WE MIGHT AS WELL WALK AT HIS PACE!!!

WE MIGHT AS WELL CARRY ON A CONVERSATION WITH HIM ALL DAY LONG AND ENJOY HIS COMPANIONSHIP!!!!

HE KNOWS THE EXACT PACE WE OUGHT TO BE WALKING THROUGH THE DAYS AND YEARS!!!

HE KNOWS WHEN WE ARE RUNNING TOO FAST, OR HANGING BACK TOO LONG!!!

AND AS OUR GUIDE THROUGH LIFE…..HE HAS THINGS TO SHOW US THAT WE MAY VERY WELL MISS IF WE KEEP RUNNING AHEAD OF HIM IN OUR FOOLISH IMPATIENCE!!!!

MOST OF THE WORLD OF COURSE….HAS DROPPED ANY PRETENSE OF HONORING A SPECIAL TIME WITH GOD!!!

WE HAVE NO TIME WITH GOD……AND NO TIME FOR GOD!!!

AS FAR AS OUR WORLD IN CONCERNED….HE IS IRRELEVANT!!!

REMEMBER IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES………WHEN STORES FIRST BEGAN STAYING OPEN ON SUNDAYS?

MOST OF THEM STARTED THE PRACTICE BY OPENING FROM 1-5PM MAKING AT LEAST A GESTURE TOWARD CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO MIGHT VALUE BEING IN CHURCH!!!

EVEN THAT SMALL COURTESTY….HOWEVER…..QUICKLY WENT OUT THE WINDOW AS CASH REGISTERS ACROSS AMERICA RANG IN FRESH INCOME!!!

SUNDAY IN MUCH OF OUR NATION HAS BECOME ‘JUST ANOTHER DAY’!!!

I AM TOLD THAT HERE IN LINCOLN AND THE AREA THERE ISN’T A SOCCER FIELD IN THE CITY THAT ISN’T FILLED WITH KID’S SOCCER TEAMS PLAYING SOCCER BY 9AM ON SUNDAY MORNING!!!

CHURCH??

HOW IRRELEVANT!!!

WORSHIP?

WHAT’S THAT!!!

PLEASE DON’T MISS MY POINT HERE…….

SINCE WE LIVE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA….I’M NOT PUSHING FOR SOME KIND OF UPTIGHT….LEGALISTIC…..SUNRISE TO SUNSET…..’DAY OF REST’!!!

FRANKLY.L…..EVERY DAY IS A SABBATH DAY OF REST FOR THE BELEIVER IN JESUS CHRIST!!!

HE IS OUR SABBATH REST!!!1

AND YET…….EVEN THE PRINCIPLE OF ‘ONE DAY FOR GOD’ HONORED BY OUR NATION SINCE COLONIAL DAYS HAS BEEN COMPLETELY TRAMPLED IN THE DUST BY TODAY’S PLEASURE-MAD……MATERIAL – OBSESSED CULTURE!!!!

WE HAVE SO LITTLE TIME LEFT FOR GOD!!!

OUR LIVES ARE SO VERY FULL AND YET SO VERY EMPTY!!!

WE HAVE NO ROOM FOR HIM IN OUR THOUGHTS, IN OUR SCHEDULES, OR IN THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES!!!

THE QUESTION THEN IS….”WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I DO ABOUT IT???

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DO I KEEP GOING WITH THE FLOW OF THE WORLD AND LET THEM CONTINUALLY ERODE AWAY MY PERSONAL TIMES OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD???

SOLOMON ….WISE MAN THAT HE WAS……LEARNED SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THE WAY LIFE WORKS IN GOD’S WORLD!!!

HE WROTE THIS:

UNLESS THE LORD BUILD A HOUSE……THE WORK OF THE BUILDERS IS USELESS!!!

UNLESS THE LORD PROTECTS THE CITY…..GUARDING IT WITH SENTRIES WILL DO NO GOOD!!!

IT IS USELESS FOR YOU TO WORK SO HARD FROM EARLY MORNING TO LATE AT NIGHT…..ANXIOUSLY WORKING FOR FOOD TO EAT……..

FOR GOD GIVES!!!……GOD GIVES REST TO HIS LOVED ONES!!!!

(PSALM 127:1-2)

IN HIS LOVE….I BELIEVE THE LORD IS SAYING THIS:    YOU WORK NIGHT AND DAY……WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING ……YOU’RE PLAYING SO HARD YOU EXHAUST YOURSELF!!!

YOU’RE BUSY….BUSY….BUSY…..WITH NO TIME FOR GOD…..NO TIME TO EVALUATE YOUR HEART AND LIFE!!!

YOU THINK THAT IF YOU DON’T CRAM EVERY EXCESS HOUR WITH WORK OR ENTERTAINMENT….THAT YOU WILL SOMEHOW MISSOUT ON LIFE AND BE THE LOSER!!!

BUT THE SABBATH PRINCIPLE IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE!!!

THE FACT IS….TIME SET ASIDE FOR THE LORD IS NEVER LOST TIME!!!

GOD KNOWS WHAT A GREAT IMPACT TIME ALONE WITH HIM WILL MAKE IN OUR LIVES!!!

HE TELLS US “WHEN YOU STOP WORKING….I’LL DO MY GREATEST WORK”!!!

AND WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS TIME OF REST IS THE ASSURANCE THAT ALMIGHTY GOD- - - MY CREATOR AND REDEEMER……MY LORD AND MY FRIEND……..IS WORKING ON MY BEHALF TO BRING THINGS ABOUT IN MY LIFE!!!

IT ISN’T ME!!!
IT ISN’T MY WORK!!!

IT ISN’T MY CLEVERNESS OR ENERGY OR DETERMINATION OR LUCK OR TIMING!!!!

IT IS ALL OF HIM!!!!

I JUST GET TO REST!!!!!

REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD ON THE DAY HE RESTED…..

“IT IS GOOD”!!!

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HIS CREATION WAS NOT JUST GOOD…..IT WAS VERY VERY GOOD!!!!

CAN YOU AND I SAY THE SAME THING???

WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT WHAT WE’VE DONE ON SOME LONG-TERM PROJECT……CAN WE SAY…”IT IS GOOD?!!!\

WHEN WE REFLECT ON ALL WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED IN A DAY….A WEEK……A YEAR……OR A LIFETIME…..CAN WE SAY…”IT IS GOOD”!!!

IF YOU CAN’T….

IF YOU CAN’T REFLECT ON YOUR LIFE……YOUR HOME……YOUR FAMILY……YOUR LABORS…..AND SPEAK THOSE THREE WORDS, MAYBE THE REASON IS BEC YOU HAVE DONE IT!!!

IT’S BEEN YOUR WORK!!!!

NOT GOD’S!!!

IT’S BEEN YOUR AGENDA……..IT’S BEEN YOUR GAME PLAN

YOU HAVE LIVED LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS!!!!

BUT …..WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU’VE TAKEN YOUR LIFE……YOUR HOME……YOUR FAMILY…

YOUR MINISTRY……YOUR WORK…….YOUR INVESTMENTS……AND EVERYTHING YOU ARE……..

AND HAVE PLACED IT ALL IN HIS CARE AND RESTED IT IN HIS HAND……..YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK!!!

YOU CAN LOOK BACK AT THE THNGS YOU’VE DONE IN HIS STRENGTH….AND WITH HIS HELP AND SAY….”LORD THIS IS GOOD”!!!!

NO ONE IN THE WORLD MY THINK MUCH OF THIS OR EVEN GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT….

I’VE NEVER HAD MY NAME IN THE NEWSPAPER OR MY FACE ON TV AND THERE HAVEN’T BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SHAKING MY HAND…..OR SLAPPING ME ON THE BACK…….BUT LORD………..BEC YOUR HAND AND TOUCH HAVE BEEN ON MY LIFE………IT IS GOOD!!!!

HE WANTS TO BE CENTER IN OUR LIVES…

HE WANTS TO HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH US!!!

THAT’S EXACTLY HOW HE SET IT UP ORIGINALLY IN THE GARDEN.!!!

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE WAS A GREAT INTIMACY BETWEEN ADAM AND GOD.

GOD WOULD COME ALONG AND WALK WITH ADAM IN THE COOL OF THE DAY!!!

I DON’T PICTURE ADAM TELLING GOD….”HEY….I’M REALLY TOO BUSY TODAY TO MEET….”

OR ….HEY DON’T WALK SO SLOW….GOD”!!!

KEEP UP WITH ME HERE…..I’M VERY BUSY AND HAVE A MILLION THINGS TO DO!!!!

I CAN REMEMBER THE DAYS OF MY COURTSHIP WITH SUSAN, WHEN WE WERE ENGAGED BUT APART LIVING IN TWO DIFFERENT CITIES!!!

I WAS FINISHING COLLEGE…….

I’D BE BUSY ALL THE TIME….

WITH STUDYING, GOING TO CLASS, GOING TO WORK, GOING TO CHOIR PRACTICE,

GETTING MY LAUNDRY DONE……AND MY STUFF ORGANIZED…

KEEPING THE CAR RUNNING AND IN SHAPE!!!

YET ALL THE TIME…..SUSAN WOULD BE ON MY MIND!!!

I WOULD THINK OF HER A THOUSAND TIMES A DAY!!!

MAYBE THEY WERE JUST QUICK ….FLEETING THOUGHTS, BUT THEY KEPT ME GOING!!!

AND I COULD ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO TWO THINGS!

ONE…….THE TIME ALMOST EACH DAY, THAT I WOULD PAUSE AND SIT DOWN AND WRITE HER OR CALL HER.

IT WAS DURING THOSE TIMES I WOULD LET HER SEE MY HEART….AND SHE WOULD SEE MINE!!!

THAT’S THE KIND OF INTIMACY THIS 4TH COMMANDMENT IS TALKING ABOUT!!!

I WOULD REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ONCE A MONTH OR EVERY SIX WEEKS WHEN ON A LONG WEEKEND OR SOMETHING - - NO MATTER WHAT WE WE’RE DOING - - WE WOULD LEAVE ALL THE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES BEHIND……..AND FIND TIME TO BE TOGETHER!!!!

I JUST WANTED TO BE WITH HER…

GOING WHERE SHE WANTED TO GO…

DOING WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO…….

HAVING AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT WHATEVER SHE WAS THINKING…….FEELING……..PLANNING…….AND DREAMING!!!

I WANTED TO LISTEN TO WHATEVER SHE HAD TO SAY.

I WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON HER!!!!

THAT’S A PICTURE OF OUR WALK WITH THE LORD!!!

THROUGH THE WEEK…….THOUGH WE ARE BUSY….AND PRESSED BY RESPONSIBILITIES…..WE’RE THINKING ABOUT HIM WHENEVER WE CAN!!!

WE’RE SHOOTING UP LITTLE ‘ARROW’ PRAYERS TO HIM AND LISTENING FOR HIS VOICE!!!

BUT WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE LONGER…..’SABBATH’ TIMES WHEN WE GET TO CONCENTRATE ON HIM….

AND OPEN OUR HEARTS TO HIM, AND WORSHIP HIM!!!

THIS…..I BELIEVE……IS THE SPIRIT OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT!!!

YES…..LIFE CAN BECOME INCREDIBLY HECTIC AND COMPLICATED!!!

WE ALWAYS HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT!!!

BUT LET’S MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE DAY A WEEK WHEN WE HAVE EXTENDED TIME WITH HIM!!!

BEC IF WE DON’T RESOLVE IT IN OUR MINDS AND WRITE IT ON OUR CALENDARS……THE WOLRD WILL QUICKLY SWALLOW THAT TIME!!!

BEFORE WE KNOW IT……THE ALARM CLOCK WILL BE RINGING ON MONDAY MORNING AND THE OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LOST!!!

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING….

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO YOU ARE….THE WORK OF LIFE WILL NEVER BE ‘DONE”!!!!

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER LETTER TO WRITE…..FORM TO COMPLETE……ERRAND TO RUN…..PROJECT TO FINISH……..OR A DRAWER TO ORGANIZE…..

AND CHILD TO CORRECT…….OR SPEND TIME WITH……

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU’VE ‘CAUGHT UP’ TO HAVE TIME WITH HIM……..IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!!!

BE STILL…….IS WHAT HE WISHPERS…….AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!!!!

BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THIS:

THE PATH TO SABBATH REST WILL ALWAYS BE A CONTESTED PATH!!!!

HAVEN’T YOU EVER WONDERED WHY IT SEEMS SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THESE TIMES WITH GOD IN OUR LIFE???

WHY IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A CHORE TO SIMPLY PICK UP YOUR BIBLE OR GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES TO PRAY???

THE ENEMY KNOWS THIS PATH TO THE SABBATH WILL LEAD YOU TO REST AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PERSPECTIVE AND A REORDERING OF YOUR PRIORITIES!!!

AND SATAN WILL TRY TO THWART YOU!!!

HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO FIND THAT PATH!!!

NEVER DOUBT IT!!!

HE HAS A THOUSAND WAYS TO SIDETRACK AND DIVERT YOU FROM GOD!!!!!

SATAN KNOWS THAT IF HE KEEPS US STRIVING IN OUR OWN STRENGTH…..THE JOY AND SENSE OF PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES WILL DRAIN LIKE OIL OUT OF A QUARTER SIZED HOLE IN YOUR CAR’S OIL PAN!!!!

A SABBATH DAY IS A LIFE INVENTORY DAY!!!!  (ILLUS: LIKE A SHOP OWNER INVENTORYING HIS STOCK AT THE END OF THE WEEK)

DIMINISHED SUPPLY OF MERCY OR COMPASSION…..OR GRACE…

OR MAYBE WE’RE LOW ON ENDURANCE……OR PATIENCE!!!

MAYBE OUR LOVE HAS BEEN GIVEN AWAY UNTIL THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT AND OUR HEART FEELS EMPTY!!!

HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN AMPLY PROVIDE FOR WHATEVER WE NEED….

WHATEVER HAS BEEN POURED OUT IN HIS SERVICE!!!

PAUL WROTE IT……IT IS HE WHO WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS FROM HIS RICHES IN GLORY…..BEC OF WHAT CHRIST JESUS HAS DONE FOR US!!!

I GUESS IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS:   WHO IS THE MANAGER OF YOUR LIFE ANYWAY???

IS HE REALLY LORD JUST BEC YOU CALL HIM ‘LORD’?

DO YOU GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY AS MANAGER TO EVALUATE WHERE YOU’RE AT AND MAKE CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS?

BEC HE LOVES US….HE TOLD US……REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY AND KEEP IT HOLY!!!!

WHEN WE DO ….WE GET TO LOOK BACK OVER OUR LIVES WITH NO SENS OF REGRET OR WASTED TIME!!!

AND YOU JUST MAY FIND YOURSELF SAYING….”LORD….THIS IS GOOD…..THIS IS REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!!

PRAYER:

LORD…….THIS KIND OF COMMANDMENT OUGHT TO BE ONE OF THE EASIEST TO OBEY….

YET SO OFTEN I FIND IT THE MOST DIFFICULT

YOU TOLD US TO REST BEC WE DESPERATELY NEED TO!!1

LORD….FORGIVE ME FOR MY WORRYING, AND STRIVING….AND MANIPULATING,,,,,AND SCHEMING - - -

AS THOUGH EVERYTHING SOMEHOW DEPENDED ON ME!!!

SIN REALLY IS HARD WORK LORD!!!

TAKING THINGS INTO MY OWN HANDS AHS WEARIED ME MORE THAN I CAN SAY!!!

I LOOK TO YOU NOW AS THE ONE WHO RESTORES MY SOUL!!!

I LOOK TO YOU AS THE ONE WHO SAID…”COME UNTO ME….ALL YOU THAT ARE WEARY AND HEAVY-LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST”

THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY….LORD…….I WANT TO SIT AT YOUR FEET…….GAZE INTO YOUR FACE…..HANG ON TO YOUR EVERY WORD.!!!

THE NEEDS AROUND ME ARE PRESSING……….BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE!!!!

AND SO TODAY LORD…. I WILL LISTEN TO YOUR CALL AND SUBMIT TO YOUR TENDER COMMAND…

IN JESUS NAME….AMEN!!!