So God said that we should "Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy." This is generally taken in our day and age to mean that we should value a regular time of rest. And while we all acknowledge it, we often forget just how true that is. Resting is as critical to our ability to fulfill God's will as working.
In rest, we regain energy, focus, and remind ourselves that God still works even when we don't. That He "never sleeps, nor does He slumber." And it reminds us that we can rest in the grace of a God that more than fills the gaps between our work load and our accomplishments. He gives our work favor and success. Without God, we simply move around in vain because our work can never fulfill any real purpose. And we wind up tired, empty, and feeling no reason to have passion or enthusiasm.
As we enter the Christmas season, we technically take time off of work to celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends and this is supposed to give us the chance to rejuvenate our souls and our bodies through rest and relaxation. As someone who has been called a "Scrooge" in the past, I have such a hard time getting through the holidays for the very paradox that I am describing. Though we should rest, relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy God's goodness, we often find ourselves grasping for breath as we slide headlong and stressed out into the holidays that celebrate a beautiful picture of God's goodness and grace to mankind - the very thing that we should be reminded of each time we take a sabbath rest. These times should bring energy, focus, passion and enthusiasm. In other words, the Christmas season offers a time for us to reflect on God's goodness and grace, but it simply provides one more opportunity in a long list of the times that we should remember this all year long.
So, many folks are getting ready to travel, some have family coming here to visit. However, where ever, and with whomever you spend the holiday season, please take with you the perspective that this is ultimately all about rejuvenation of the soul. Christmas reminds us of God's larger plan, of God's love for us, and of the hope and joy we have in knowing that God is still working even when we need to rest and relax.
May you be truly blessed this Christmas with knowing that it is not your working that God needs, nor does your family or friends. They need you to invest pieces of your soul into their lives. And as God knit together the souls of David and Jonathan, may He knit your soul to the souls of those you love. May this Christmas be a time of rejuvenation and not work, may it be a time of rest and not weariness, may it be a time of hope and joy, not fear and tension as family gets together. And may we all remember the value of rest. Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy. It is Godly to take a nap sometimes. Enjoy the holidays!!
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