Busier Than Jesus

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” Gal 5:1.

Most likely, we have all sat with jaws dropped as we watch the incredible stories of hoarders. It is a disorder that is tough to understand. The saddest of these stories is when the homeowner finally opens up their mind and heart to rid themselves of the practices that were unhealthy. They examine the individual behaviors that cluttered up their space and overtook their lives. We go through the journey with them as they methodically and intentionally rid their space of the clutter. Such joy and appreciation belongs to them for their hard work and revelation…until the cameras darken and the accountability pulls away. Then day by day the clutter returns…the intentionality disappears…the disciplines are lost.

We are no different when considering our own lives. God has given me a wonderful gift of vocation and calling. Last week I turned in 99 hours for 14 days and I can’t believe that delighted Him. He did not call me out of one thing to be enslaved to another. There was nothing in my heart that felt good about turning those hours in because it came at a price. Fewer prayer walks…less physical exercise…minimal human contact. This morning I was convicted that Christ didn’t climb up on that tree to give us freedom for us to thank Him during church once a week, walk away from the altar and returned to captivity.

God gave us Sabbath rest as a command, not a suggestion. Do not kill…do not steal…do not covet and envy…give a tenth to the Lord out of everything…keep the Sabbath holy. ‘Observe the Sabbath by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work… Remember that you were slaves…and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day’ De 5:12-15. When we see a passage from the Lord that anchors the same command we had better make sure obedience is our response.

When Jesus walked this earth there had never been and will never be a greater purpose than His purpose on earth. But even Jesus ceased from healing by entering into Sabbath rest…even Jesus refrained from teaching the important message of the Kingdom by carving out Sabbath rest…even Jesus paused from the pressures of daily work by taking time to fellowship with God, His friends and family. Who of us is willing to say that our work is more important than the redeeming work of Christ? Who of us is willing to say that we are busier than Jesus was as people clamored just to touch Him as He walked from point A to B?

If we are to be enslaved to anything let it be to Jesus and not to food, drink, money, power or work. May it be our daily prayer and obedience to not hoard the things of this world and clutter the space of rest in our lives.