Why Aren’t We Meeting This Weekend?
By Matt Dawson
Many people ask us why we make the choice to take the Sunday after Christmas OFF every year (which this year happens to be the 1st Sunday of 2017). It’s easy. Sabbath!
The commandment of The Sabbath is somewhat lost in our culture of hurried schedules, busy down time, and push to make hay while the sun shines. However – God was VERY CLEAR about our command to REST.
My favorite scriptural example of this in the beginning of Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures…”
I don’t know about you, but I’m comforted by these words. HE MAKES ME.
The human body cannot sustain life without REST. God has wired it within our flesh to HAVE TO lie down and rest. He also commands us in addition to INTENTIONALLY take a break from our striving and sabbath ONE DAY A WEEK.
If you were LIVE to 80 and you calculated the amount of time you sleep (let’s say 8 hours) and also add 24 hours per week for Sabbath, you would be MADE TO REST a little over 40% of your life.
WHY DOES GOD INSIST THAT WE REST?
To keep our trust in Him. To “be still and know that He is God.” To make sure that we are not under the illusion that WE control our lives and that WE make all things good.
No, He is our shepherd, and we lack NOTHING. He makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us beside still waters and restores our souls!
Every year we DECIDE to take ONE SUNDAY OFF to remind ourselves that we are not in control of Journey Church. We are NOT the ones that make our church so amazing. It’s ALL GOD! We love our volunteers and staff and value how hard they work, so it’s a nice weekend off. However, no matter how much the Partners of our church do to make Journey great… It is really GOD who makes our church so wonderful to be a part of.
So we’re not meeting this weekend. As you reflect on your past year and are getting ready for a new year – take this time to REST in GOD. Know that He is the one who restores your soul and leads you to all things that are good!
Enjoy this Sunday Sabbath. We will see you on January 8th!