The Sabbath day has always been a bit of a mystery to me.. I will share the scriptures on thoughts in greater detail in another post.. For the last 2 weeks, I have been motivated by my study of our Abrahamic roots to take back the Sabbath day and make it a greater priority for our family. And to my surprise, it has been one of the most challenging tasks I have ever taken on. It is like I suddenly have this urge to clean, and tidy and organize and just do something… almost an uncontrollable urge… Always a sign that I have crossed a battle line somewhere. BUT, the Lord is so faithful and has been preparing all the while just for this day. And interestingly enough, for me the answer seems to lie in God’s grace and whether or not I am willing to put my trust wholly in Him.
Ever had the wool pulled over your eyes…..? I relearned this week what I had learned and then forgotten and then had this niggly feeling about since. The definition of the Greek root word for grace is NOT “unmerited favour”. Turns out that in one of my favourite Bibles, The Amplified Bible, this definition is often used in brackets, so slowly and surely I had started to believe it was so. What it is is one of the definitions of the Hebrew word also meaning grace and applies strictly to certain instances used in the Old Testament….
Strong’s Concordance definition. G5485
ca>riv,— khar’-ece; from (5463) (cai>rw); graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal,figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
This is the definition of the word “grace” in almost every case it is seen in the NT. And yet, I have heard it taught so differently so many times….
My lightbulb moment. Take the scripture on Paul’s thorn and the scripture from James 4:6… and medidate on them.
“This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 Iwas caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.hat experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (NLT)
“6 But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).”
–James 4:6 (AMP)
So, basically, anyplace I am trusting in my own ability, efforts, strength, power, whatever human thing I would like to rely on, I am literally rejecting God’s grace in that area. All forms of human pride block God’s grace…
per above defintion : God’s graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal,figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
It is so plainly written and so clear.
“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
– John 6:63 “
“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. 2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”
–Psalm 127:1-2
So here is my confession, which I am speaking outloud too as I write. Lord, please forgive me for my great pride, for all of my striving, for all of my fussing, for all of my worrying, for all of my anxious toil, for refusing to enter and live in the place of rest, peace, calm and joy that the Lord Jesus died to provide for me.
Somewhere, in utter foolishness, I believed that voice, that driving voice in my head that to rest, to sit still, etc would be a waste of such a fine day.. after all, my hubby is home helping with the kids, we are out an about as a family, the perfect time to get a few errands done and of course it is so much easier just to spread the work out over 7 days instead of cramming it all into 6. What I missed is that I was neglecting something that was far more valuable. An amazing opportunity to practice living and resting in the presence of the Almighty, letting Him lavish His love on me, comfort me, renew me, restore me, refresh me and equip me for another week as His fully prepared and strengthened servant. I lost the godly perspective, that most of the curves in the road, those challenges, bumps, frustrations etc… will melt away or straighten complete if and when I walk in obedience to His Word. In fact, I may never know just how many hiccups, detours, disasters etc I have completely avoided if I slow down and trust for God’s perfect provision daily. I forgot that in the Kingdom, the math never makes sense to the natural self.. I can do half as much and accompish twice as much when following after the Spirit of the Lord. The reality is ungodly business will steal my ability to hear that still small voice.
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
–Psalm 46:10
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
– Matthew 6:33
The truth is, I have been carrying my cares, my burdens, my workload, my junk and haven’t been faithfully casting them with any diligence unto the Lord. Praise God that His ways are so much better…
Healing and Discipleship 