Since I have had the opportunity to be your pastor we have seen a number of changes in the life of our congregation, and it has been a time of growth and challenge for all of us as we seek to discern what God's will is for us as a congregation and as the individuals who make up the congregation. A question I have been asked often since I arrived in Morgan City is: "How do I know whether or not I am being faithful to what God is calling me to do?" The follow-up usually involves: "We hear so much about God wanting us to be totally devoted to the Divine will being done in our lives but how do we really know?" Unfortunately, in many areas of our lives it is hard to discern what this means for us, and we are left to simply do the best we can with what we have.
However, one thing that God has been working on in me that I want to share with you is that as I read God's word more and more and pray about this issue is that while so many things are left unanswered in this pursuit, there are two things that God has revealed to me to help measure my trust and faith. They happen to be two of the hardest things for us to accept as the reality of living the Christian life: Tithing and Sabbath-keeping. These are also two of the things that we choose to regularly and deliberately ignore, using excuses to justify our non-obedience to God's commands. The question that keeps coming to me as I deliberate on these matters more is not, "Is God REALLY serious about these issues?", but instead is, "Why are we so arrogant as to think that we cannot do these simple things?"
As I mentioned to you during last year's stewardship campaign, I firmly believe in the discipline of the tithe and will be happy to show you my contribution statements to the church to prove that I am not asking you to do anything I am not doing.
Last week, though, during my time away visiting family and preparing for my sister's wedding, I was confronted with the reality that I have not done enough to observe a true sabbath, taking one day a week to observe the sabbath and keep it holy by setting aside the daily routines of life. Like so many, I have been of the mindset that I have too much to do to 'take a day off.' I have paid a high price physically, spiritually, and emotionally for this attitude, and came to an important realization: Is observing the Sabbath 'taking a day off', or is it taking a day to focus on what is truly important, the God without whom I have nothing and am nothing. Could it be that by trusting God enough to observe the Sabbath I can take advantage of the opportunity not only to put my focus where it belongs and to put the stuff that is not really important in the big scheme of things, the stuff that I am using now as a crutch to not observe the sabbath, in proper perspective?
See you Sunday!
Lamar
However, one thing that God has been working on in me that I want to share with you is that as I read God's word more and more and pray about this issue is that while so many things are left unanswered in this pursuit, there are two things that God has revealed to me to help measure my trust and faith. They happen to be two of the hardest things for us to accept as the reality of living the Christian life: Tithing and Sabbath-keeping. These are also two of the things that we choose to regularly and deliberately ignore, using excuses to justify our non-obedience to God's commands. The question that keeps coming to me as I deliberate on these matters more is not, "Is God REALLY serious about these issues?", but instead is, "Why are we so arrogant as to think that we cannot do these simple things?"
As I mentioned to you during last year's stewardship campaign, I firmly believe in the discipline of the tithe and will be happy to show you my contribution statements to the church to prove that I am not asking you to do anything I am not doing.
Last week, though, during my time away visiting family and preparing for my sister's wedding, I was confronted with the reality that I have not done enough to observe a true sabbath, taking one day a week to observe the sabbath and keep it holy by setting aside the daily routines of life. Like so many, I have been of the mindset that I have too much to do to 'take a day off.' I have paid a high price physically, spiritually, and emotionally for this attitude, and came to an important realization: Is observing the Sabbath 'taking a day off', or is it taking a day to focus on what is truly important, the God without whom I have nothing and am nothing. Could it be that by trusting God enough to observe the Sabbath I can take advantage of the opportunity not only to put my focus where it belongs and to put the stuff that is not really important in the big scheme of things, the stuff that I am using now as a crutch to not observe the sabbath, in proper perspective?
See you Sunday!
Lamar
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