Thursday, June 18, 2009

REST IN JESUS...

SCRIPTURE


Acts 20:1-16 (NRSV)

Paul's travels

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas; but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.

We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

DEVOTION

Today’s devotional reminds me that there are certain challenges to being a Christian that we ought to be mindful of.

First of all, everyone is not going to appreciate our GOOD NEWS message regarding Jesus! There are actually people--and entire industries--that profit from the idolatry, vanity, and greed of human culture.

When Christians emerge bringing a message of love, humility, and generosity, encouraging people to put aside their idols and place all of their hope in Jesus—the profiteers become enraged!

This is exactly what happened to Paul in Ephesus. The silversmiths who crafted idols for worship were losing business because of the GOOD NEWS message! They became enraged running Paul out of the city.

We may not be run out of the city here in America, but we may receive the cold shoulder at work, our neighbors may avoid us, and our non-Christian friends and family may tease us about our “goody-two-shoes” attitude to life.

Do not be dismayed my friends! Hold your head high and continue to shower the naysayers with the love, joy, and peace which are most precious gifts from the Holy Spirit. Although you may not see them come to Christ, the seeds you plant may lead them to another who will help them come into relationship with Jesus, Our Lord!

But, there is a second “occupational hazard” to being a Christian. Our love for God may tempt us to serve and worship until we are completely burnt out and/or exhausted!

Eutychus’ story is only funny because it had a happy ending! But, his experience ought to be a lesson for us! Let us not be in church so long that we fall asleep, tumble out of a window, and die upon hitting the ground!

Now this is not likely to literally happen to us; but I have seen more than one passionate and excited Christian hit the wall and burn out because s/he did not take care of themselves.

I know that we serve an awesome God who can do anything! God can give us the strength to overcome any obstacle and push through any challenge. But, God also made us human. It is God who gave us a biological need for rest and sleep and we know that God does not make any mistakes!

Tell the truth saints! Have you ever felt like Eutychus? I will confess that at times I have not observed God’s injunction to rest. I vainly attempt to serve the Lord under my own power believing that the good that I can do for Jesus outweighs the needs of my body for food, water, exercise, and rest!

How silly of me! Jesus is able to do more with a well rested and healthy saint, than he can do with an exhausted, burnt out, and disobedient one! Remember, the Fourth Commandment states, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”

I don’t know why Eutychus fell out of the window; but I do know that God had to use Paul to rescue and resurrect Him!

Have you ever said, “Just one more meeting, one more worship, one more outing, one more phone call, one more email, just one more…one more…one…ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…

Oh my! Let us take the time to build Sabbath rest and self care into our lives. Taking the time to attend to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs does not make you a bad Christian; it makes you a wise one!

There are many times recorded in scripture where Jesus made the time to find a “solitary place” where he could rest, pray, and rejuvenate His Spirit for the work ahead.

Let us follow the wise counsel of our God and do the same! Remember, you cannot earn the love of God! God loves the saint and the sinner unconditionally; God proved God's love when Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. We are not saved by our works, lest we should boast; rather, we are saved by putting all of our hope in Jesus! We are saved solely because of God's Amazing Grace!

Saint, you have God’s permission to take a nap! Your work and/or ministry will be the better for it!

Will you trust God enough to rest?

Eternal One, thank you for the commandment to rest on the Sabbath day. I confess that I have often neglected to observe this commandment. Please help me to do better. I want to rest in Jesus. In His Name, Amen.





ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

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Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

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