Space - October 24,
2001
There is an insurance agency in our town called No
Names Insurance (not their real name). I know this
because their office is located on a road I travel often
and the sign out front always catches my eye. Directly
below their business name they have their website address
listed in bold letters - nonamesins.com. I'm not sure if
it's my carnal nature speaking out or what, but the first
thing I see when I read the sign is 'no name sins'. This
conjures up an entirely different mental picture than I'm
sure the insurance agents intend, but I can't help it.
When the spaces are left out of a sentence, the message
can come out much different from what it is supposed to.
When the spaces are left out of our lives, we can come
out much different from what we are supposed to also.
God commanded us to work six days and then take a day
of rest. This wasn't just a good suggestion, He designed
our minds, bodies and spirits to operate in this manner.
To stay healthy in all areas of our lives, we need time
off to rest. I have to admit, this hits very close to
home for me. We are out spreading the gospel on the
weekends and during the week it is easy to spend every
day taking care of the details that keep us on the road,
not to mention the work to keep a family of four fed,
healthy and happy. In the last six months while we have
been preparing to and finally returning to our music
ministry, there have been only a few days that I took the
entire day off and left the business on my desk. My
disobedience to God's command to observe a Sabbath has
taken it's toll on me to the point that the last month or
so I had really lost my joy. Then this past weekend Pam
and I took five days off to celebrate our anniversary and
it was exactly what I needed! Now I am once again excited
about what God is doing and will do, and I'm physically
and spiritually able to give Him all of me for His
service. I'm glad God was still working through me during
the past few months, but how much more would He have done
if I had presented Him with an energized vessel to
use?
How about you? Does it feel like there are too few
hours in the day? Are you constantly rushing and yet
never getting caught up? Would you like to spend more
time with your family? Do you need to spend more time
with God? Have you gotten so bogged down that you have
lost your joy? The answer is simple ... take a break!
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." - Exodus
20:8. If you are like us and have to work on the Sabbath,
pick another day to take your focus off work and focus on
God. Just do it! You need a break and God will honor your
obedience. He doesn't just suggest it, He commands
it!
