Sabbath Rhythm

Are you taking time to live in the rhythm of the grace gift of Sabbath? God provided us a rhythm of work and rest. God wants us to create, manage, steward, work BUT he also wants us to CEASE-to find our rest in Him.

Resting in Him, for one day, teaches us some valuable things about our relationship with God and ourself:

1. You and I can trust God in our rest. We are creative people. We have a job to do. But, we can trust him to still be God even in our ceasing and resting. God will accomplish his purposes with our work and in our resting. TRUST him and take-a-break! Trust me on this. God wants you to learn to rest in him. When will you observe a Sabbath rest this week?

2. It teaches us about the Gospel. Religion says, "I do to earn favor with God." Grace, found in the gospel says, "God gave so there is nothing I can do to earn his favor." Sabbath is a beautiful grace-gift reminding believers of THE grace-gift given to us by the Father in his Son - Jesus. Observing Sabbath is a testimony of my belief in the gospel. It is a proclamation my eternal rest is in Him. There is nothing one more day of work can do for me. I need one day to publicly proclaim my dependence on HIS grace and the grace given to me.

3. It teaches me God is in control. In my work, God is in control. And, in my rest, my ceasing, God is in control. He is God and I am not. This is an important reminder because to many times we can act like little "g" - "god." A rhythm of Sabbath ceasing and working reminds me of my proper place and God's rightful place.

Sabbath is a grace gift given to everyone. I look forward to hearing your stories of how you are learning to cease and to work in this rhythm of grace called Sabbath.

This is especially important in a place like Portland. The constant buzz of creativity - work - can seduce you. With so much to do, so many people to connect with, so many things to prepare, work can intoxicate you to "do more," "never stop," and "rest another day." Ceasing, in the midst of all that God has placed on your heart, renews, restores, reclaims, reinvents the Kingdom in you. this rhythm of Sabbath says even in a hard place, a difficult place, God I can trust you to be at work even in my ceasing and resting.

#sendportland requires a Sabbath Rhythm