God Rested

Rest and Restore your mind and body.

Gen. 2:2

Creation was completed in six days.  God rested on the seventh day. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. 

 Several years ago Christians recognized Sunday as a holy day. Some religions observed Saturday as a holy day. That is not true now. We can shop, eat and seek recreation on any day of the week.

Our world is hurry, hurry. We expect instant information on our phones and instant service for food. Every day is filled with work, worry and seldom any rest.  Studies show that most of us do not get enough sleep. We need rest. We need to come away from our work filled life and refresh body and soul.

Jesus sought rest when he learned John the Baptist had been killed (Matt. 14:13).  After His baptism, the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness (Mark 1:9-12).  There he was alone to pray and prepare himself for his upcoming mission.  Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before he was arrested and crucified (Mark 26:36-38).

Rest and restoration of the body and soul may come in different forms for different people.  While one might find relaxation fishing or boating, another may enjoy slowing down to read or engage in hobbies.  A walk in nature reminds us of God’s blessings.  Always remember to pray as you relax and seek God’s will for yourself and your family.  Turn away from the bustle of the world and rest your mind and body.

  

In The Beginning

            I have challenged myself to read the Bible through this year.  I will not make it all the way through because I keep stopping to research and ponder. It is not enough to just read, one must think about what is written and why it is written.

            So where to begin?  Begin in the beginning, of course. In the New Testament Jesus says Moses wrote the books of Law.  (John 1:17, John 7:19).  The Books of Law are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  So we accept these books as truth because they are God inspired.  God told Moses what to write. They are history, instruction and a guide to how to live. The Books of Law were given to the Jewish people.  They are included in modern Christian Bibles as well.  The Book of Exodus contains the Ten Commandments.  These rules are the basis for the law in our country and in other countries today. 

            We do not understand the rituals and rules God gave the Jews.  They were given as a way for people to worship and follow God.  Evangelical Christians today follow the New Testament way to worship.  Jesus’ teaches us to accept Him, learn about Him and follow his teaching.  Jesus spoke about the Ten Commandments and added to them.

            Written when people believed in many gods, Moses wrote about one supreme God.  An all-powerful God who created the earth and everything in it.  This all powerful God created man and then he created a woman to be a companion to man. 

            We cannot explain the existence of God.  He is without beginning and without end. He was when time began and continues forever. The Holy Spirit was with Him.  Job 33:4 says “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty give me life.”  Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” John 10:30.

            God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit form the Trinity. They were there when the “earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” Genesis 1:2.  Therefore, the stage is set for God’s creation.   

SUNDAY BLOG ON MONDAY MORNING

The title of our Sunday School lesson yesterday was Right Not to Remain Silent. Many people in our world do not have the right to share their views, both political and spiritual. So I’m taking my right to share my spiritual views on my blog. Come along as I share our lesson from yesterday.
I’ve always been intrigued with the miracles in the Old Testament. The book of 2nd Kings tell about the prophets Elijah and Elisha, to the evil kings in Judah and Israel. Miracles in these Old Testament books abound. If you want to read about miracles, read about Elijah and Elisha.
What I want you to learn from 2 Kings 7:3-16, is God takes care of His people and we should tell others about His grace to us.
Here is the story in a nutshell. The Syrian Army had surrounded the Israelite city of Samaria. The citizens of Samaria were starving. They were to the point of committing cannibalism. If they surrendered to the Syrians, they would be killed. The king blamed the prophet Elisha. Elisha prophesied that by the next day the city would be saved and there would be plenty of food.
Elisha’s prophecy came true. God caused the Syrian Army to hear a noise of chariots and horses and the sound of an army coming upon them. The Syrian Army ran away. Four lepers decided to go the Syrian camp. They thought they might as well die there as die at the gates of Samaria. They were surprised to find the Syrian camp empty. They took what they wanted and hid it. The lepers could have kept the good news to themselves but they didn’t. They told the people in Samaria. They didn’t owe the people of Samaria anything. Those people had shunned them because of their disease. But they shared the good news that the Syrian army had ran away. The city was saved. There was food for all.
Remember God is on your side. He is working for you even if you can’t see his work right now. If God is doing something good in your life, share it.