Keeping Sabbath is a test of faith that removes a day’s wages (or a day’s progress in our projects for workaholics) so that we recognize that his care for us far surpasses our efforts. At the core of observing Sabbath rest is an intentional use of time aimed at personal (and church body) renewal. That renewal is driven by an awareness of God’s goodness, provision, and presence flowing from prioritized time in worship together with family and church. Sabbath provides a weekly opportunity to cease from things that crowd our spirit, to rest deeply, to feast on things that fill our spirit, and to embrace God’s way more fully. When we regularly reboot in Sabbath rest, we are in much better shape OEL to serve as ambassadors for the King.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The culture around us defines us according to our occupation and income. We are human “doings” in the eyes of the world. We are created in the image of God, the true source of our value, worth & identity. We are human “beings” in His eyes. Because we are made in His image, His example of resting from His work from the very beginning is a precedent for us. Jesus’ teaching that the Sabbath was made to benefit us is a guiding principle that surpasses the legalistic rote obedience exemplified by the Pharisees in His time. Sabbath provides a rhythm of reset that feeds our soul and refreshes our identity in part by remembering God’s faithful actions on our behalf in the past.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

God very strongly identifies the orphan/fatherless, widow and immigrant as being objects of His special attention. His identity is bound up with how much He cares for them. YHVH commands a structure in Israel’s everyday society that provides for the poor in their midst. That provision includes various “flavors” of food. We are called to live like and look like our Father in our treatment of the orphan/fatherless, widow and immigrant. Mistreating the poor is equal to worshiping other gods in YHVH’s view of Israel. Their failure to compassionately care for the poor is a chief reason for their exile. The purest way to follow/please God is to care for the poor.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Several times in scripture humans are likened to sheep. This is not a compliment. Isaiah famously intones that "all we like sheep have gone astray." We are weak, learn slowly, and require the leadership of a shepherd. Sheep that do have a shepherd - especially when His name is Jesus - reap countless benefits of safety, provision, community, and on and on. Those without a shepherd are lost in every way. Jesus' answer to this is His call to US to ask the Lord to send out workers (Matthew 9). Most of the time, part of His answer to that prayer is to send us. Quoting Bill Hybels, we never lock eyes with someone who doesn't matter to God, who doesn't merit an all out search. (Read here.) We are His search and rescue team!

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Last week we concentrated on seeing people the way Jesus does. The next thing Jesus does after seeing a person is: He loves them. He has compassion for them. He cares about them and for them. One of the challenging things He sees in them is that they "are harassed and helpless." They are under the thumb of the enemy, and unable within themselves to change their situation. Jesus, however, can handle it. All of it.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Jesus sets a clear pattern in His ministry of deeply seeing people. Many of those people are on the margins and are not seen by others. Human tendency is to self-protect with distance and an “eye bounce” that avoids seeing them. In contrast, when Jesus sees someone, His first reaction is to love them. BECAUSE He loves them, He speaks and ACTS in their first, best interest. To follow Jesus in loving and living like He did, our hearts must soften and our agendas must shift from pursuing our needs first to meeting others’.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Looking at Jesus' Kingdom through the lens of Romans 5, we are encouraged to remain faithful and confident in our salvation because of the lengths to which God, Jesus, and the Spirit have gone to rescue us from sin and death and restore us to eternal friendship with our Creator.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Being a Christian doesn’t remove us from the hardship in our lives. Far from it. However, because of the Kingdom of God (and its King), we take strength and comfort from three things: His past faithfulness: His current indwelling (and PERMANENT) presence, and the perspective established for us by Jesus' resurrection and the promise of His return. Until He does, His presence beside us brings us comfort.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.