09/01/2009
Author: John Powell
Striving and resting. Aren’t they in conflict? Well, no! God the Father worked seven days, creating the heavens and earth and then entered in to His rest. He sits enthroned in His creation as creator and ruler. The Son was striving three years to carry out His mission to seek and save the lost right up through the cross and resurrection. He now sits enthroned in the heavenlies far above all principality and power, resting after His victory, but interceding for our entry into His rest.
In Hebrews 4, He calls upon all who are flagging and drooping in the fight against the world, the flesh and the devil and exhorts us to strive to enter into His rest. Then in that famous Hebrews 4:12 He describes the way He works in us to deliver us from the self protection and self delusion that keeps us from entering His rest:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (ESV)
So there is no conflict between striving and resting. We don’t work for our salvation, because He accomplished it for us. But we are called to strive to enter His rest, so our deceitful hearts don’t lead us to quit short of our resting place alongside our victorious Lord. It is the rest He has prepared for us and He is preparing us for.
Along the way there are Sabbath rest stops. Weekly we cease our normal activities and focus on what He has done for us. Special days mark His birth, death, resurrection and coming of the Holy Spirit who strives in us & brings us into His rest.
Several years ago the deacon board encouraged the pastors of First EFC to plan a sabbatical. I was first in line and have been striving to work out an effective plan. Finally, last year I applied for a grant from a national foundation and planned a sabbatical. I didn’t receive the funding but was urged to continue planning without outside funding. God has enabled Mary Lou and I to work out an eight week sabbatical that will fit into our regular church budget. The striving is coming to an end and the resting is about to begin!
We will be on sabbatical from Sept. 21 through Nov. 21. The Navigators have developed a well respected Sabbatical Plan that includes Relinquish, Rest & Recovery, Reflection & Refocus, Realignment & Reentry.
Our first week is planned for rest in Escondido, California near the coast for Mary Lou’s health. Makahiki Ministries coordinates homes that are opened for pastor’s vacations and sabbaticals. Several are in California.
The next week I will cycle to the Cliff Dwellings with a few men from Las Cruces, staying overnight in bed and breakfasts etc. In November, I have been invited to accompany a local cyclist, who has terminal illness, to Peru. I will be retracing the aspects of my call to the ministry that developed there as well as taking opportunity to minister to him. In between we will read, pray, talk and think.
Pray for us as we spend this time seeking God to enter His rest and refocus for the years ahead. As I will celebrate my 59th. birthday in the middle of our sabbatical time, I am keenly aware of the opportunity to refine our vision for my next several years of active ministry. I do desire to continue striving to enter His rest and allow the Word of God to penetrate me during this sabbatical time and into the future.
