Tag: rest

Rest

Posted in mini theologies for missionaries, missionsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

WHEN I AM LIMITED AND GOD IS NOT

Spending myself for God is how I went to the field. It was also one of the main causes that I had to leave the field for some time. I was serious on giving, but scanty on receiving. I felt like I should do everything (e.g. language learning, passionate evangelism, intentional discipleship, homeschooling kids, managing a home off-grid, raising a family, regularly visiting neighbors, being hospitable, updating supporters, saying yes to opportunities, etc.) and do everything 100%. This led to burnout because I wasn’t balancing my output with my input.

Spending yourself, even for God, might be a means for getting you to the field, kickstarting work on the field, but it is not the means for sustaining you on the field. To ensure long and fruitful work on the mission field, pioneers need to learn the value of rest.

BIBLICAL REFLECTION ON SABBATH

Pioneering people by nature passionate about seeing the Gospel advance where it has never been before, and their commitment often leads to intense, unrelenting labor. While this zeal is commendable and necessary, it also carries the inherent risk of burnout, spiritual depletion, and ultimately, diminished effectiveness. This brief biblical theology explores the crucial concept of Sabbath rest, presenting it not as a legalistic burden, but as a divine gift and rhythm for sustainable, Spirit-empowered ministry.

Sabbath as a Divine Pattern. The concept of Sabbath begins not with a command for Israel, but with God Himself. After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day. This isn’t because God was tired, but because He was establishing a pattern for creation, demonstrating that rest is an integral part of flourishing and completion. (Genesis 2:2-3; Leviticus 25:1-7)

Work and rest are not antithetical but complementary. Work is productive, but rest validates and sanctifies the work, marking it as complete and good. By resting, God demonstrated His sovereignty and completeness. For us, resting is an act of trust, acknowledging that the world doesn’t depend solely on our efforts and that God is ultimately at work.

Sabbath as a Gift for Humanity. The Sabbath commandment is embedded within the Ten Commandments, signifying its fundamental importance. The Sabbath is “holy” – set apart for God’s purposes. It’s a time for ceasing from normal work and intentionally focusing on God, His provision, and His presence. It’s not merely a cultural tradition but a moral imperative rooted in God’s character and His design for humanity. God, knowing our limits, hardwired the need for regular rest into our very being. (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 23:2-3)

In Deuteronomy, the Sabbath is linked to Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It was a reminder that they were no longer slaves driven by relentless toil, but free people in covenant with a God who provides and cares for their well-being. For the pioneer, this speaks to freedom from the tyranny of unending tasks and performance-driven ministry.

Christ as our Rest and Restoration. Jesus’ approach to the Sabbath was revolutionary. He upheld its divine principle but challenged the rigid legalism that had become associated with it.

Jesus declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath, signifying His authority over it and His true intent for it. He consistently used the Sabbath to do good, to heal, and to restore, demonstrating that the Sabbath is “made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28; Isaiah 30:15).

Beyond a day of rest, Jesus offers ultimate spiritual rest for the weary and burdened. This doesn’t negate the need for physical rest but rather grounds it in a deeper spiritual reality. The physical Sabbath becomes an outward expression and reminder of the soul’s rest in Christ. (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11)

In summary, Sabbath rest is not a luxury or an optional add-on; it is a foundational spiritual discipline that enables long-term health, sustained spiritual passion, and ultimately, greater fruitfulness in fulfilling the Great Commission. It is an act of obedience, trust, and self-care, acknowledging that God is the ultimate worker and provider, and that our participation in His mission flows from life in Christ, not solely from our tireless efforts.

What other Scriptures or biblical aspects come to mind when you consider Sabbath rest? Take a few moments to look up 1-2 of these verses and journal what the Lord highlights for you.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30

THE IMPORTANCE OF SABBATH REST

Pioneer mission workers need Sabbath rest to deepen their spiritual vitality, model healthy discipleship, and prevent burnout. Rest is a discipline that attunes one with their limits and turns one’s heart to God’s limitless power and provision. Ultimately, Sabbath rest allows one to receive renewal from God, enabling them to continue His work with fresh strength and perspective.

Highly ambitious, driven, and capable people often struggle with Sabbath rest because they equate productivity with worth, or fear that a pause will hinder progress. Everyone has God-given limits in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual currency. Once that is spent, one needs to recoup and restore. Sabbath is an essential and strategic practice.

Spiritual Recharge and Intimacy with God: Unceasing work chokes off intimacy with God. Sabbath provides time and space to be with God, which deepens and reinforces the need for “Being with God” versus “Doing for God”. Sabbath helps reorient our heart to simply be with God, reminding us that our identity is in Him, not in our output.

Growing Perspective and Trust in God’s Sovereignty: Stepping away from work forces us to acknowledge that God is God, and we are not. We are not indispensable. It’s an act of humility and faith that believes God can work even when we are not working. This counters the “savior complex” and the lie that says, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”

Warding Off Burnout and Prolonging Service: Pioneer work is a marathon, not a sprint. The work often involves long hours, constant learning, spiritual warfare, dealing with trauma, and limited support systems. The need to “be always on” can quickly lead to exhaustion. Regular, intentional rest replenishes physical, mental, and emotional reserves, extending the potential longevity of ministry.

Modeling Healthy Discipleship: If pioneer workers are constantly working, what message does that send to the believers they are discipling? Practicing Sabbath models a holistic, sustainable Christian life, teaching the importance of rest and trust.

Curbing Compassion Fatigue: Missionaries are constantly encountering human suffering. Without intentional rest, they can become emotionally numb or overwhelmed, unable to truly empathize or minister effectively.

Discernment and Wisdom: Stepping away from the immediate demands of ministry allows for clearer thinking, prayer, and listening to God’s voice. This is crucial for navigating complex cultural and ministry challenges.

Giving and Receiving from Relationships: Overwork often strains relationships. Sabbath provides purposeful time to give and receive from one another, for spouses to connect, for parents to be present with their children, and for team members to foster healthy fellowship, for local relationships to be more than just about work, all of which are crucial for long-term effectiveness on the field.

PRAYER ACTION

Consider the Scriptures you cling to above. Consider the Sabbath. Write a prayer for the kind of person you want to be who rests in God.

BUILDING A PRACTICAL MINI-THEOLOGY OF SABBATH REST

Take some time to prayerfully draft your practical mini-theology of “God’s dwelling” by responding to these questions:

Why did God rest? What is the Sabbath? Why did God create the Sabbath day? What was the Hebrew’s view of the Sabbath?

example: God is… We are the kind of people who… It is most like us/me to… We/I will… We/I hold to…

Why do God’s servants need to rest? Why did God make you with limitations? Why wasting time with God is okay?

What are some practical rhythms of rest that you can implement now that you could continue with you to the field? (See ideas on the next page) What does it look like for you to “pour yourself out” for others (Philippians 2:17) in a way that is sustainable and glorifies God, without leading to burnout? What is essential and non-negotiable? What is flexible or changeable?

Once you finish share your responses with your mentor. Ask for feedback. Adjust your draft as needed.

Additional Resources for Going Deeper:
The Rest Giver, Timothy Keller
7 Types of Rest Every Missionary Needs
Balancing Rhythms of Rest and Work, by TheologyofWork.org
Sabbath: A Family Worship Guide, by J.T. Hutts

Sabbath Planning GuideDownload

WAYS TO SABBATH ON THE FIELD

Consider some of these practical ideas for what rest could look like on the mission field. Sabbath rest is not rigid formula (which Jesus spoke against), but a principle to be applied wisely and flexibly based on one’s context. It’s about a spirit of rest, worship, and refocusing on God, adapted to the realities of pioneer life.

Designated Day (or part of a day):

Ceasing from “Work”: No language study, no intense evangelism meetings, no administrative tasks, no strategizing for the unreached.

Focus on Worship and Scripture: Dedicate time for personal devotion, prayer, and deep intimacy with God and His Word. If possible, a small gathering with other believers for mutual worship and fellowship.

Recreational Activities: Engage in activities that bring rest and joy—reading non-ministry books, listening to music, pursuing a hobby, light exercise, and enjoying nature.

Relational Time: Intentional witness with family (if applicable), teammates, or local friends for fellowship and encouragement.

Meals: Enjoy a special, unhurried meal.

Adaptations for Extreme Pioneer Contexts:

Flexibility with the Day: While Sunday is traditional, the principle is one day in seven. It might be a Tuesday if that’s the only day free from local activities.

Mini-Sabbaths: In exceptional situations where a full day is impossible, practicing “mini-Sabbaths”—several hours of intentional disengagement and spiritual focus—can still be profoundly beneficial. Consider taking a ‘Safari Sabbath’ by taking a few hours to observe creation or even just a quiet spot.

Silent Retreats (short): If an opportunity arises to go to a slightly less intense location, a short overnight or day-long retreat for solitude and reflection can be invaluable.

Creative Worship: Using music, art, or natural settings for worship if traditional church gatherings are not possible.

Prioritizing Sleep: Simple, but often neglected. Deliberately getting adequate sleep is a foundational act of rest. Taking a nap can be a good use of the Sabbath.

The key is intentionality: deliberately setting aside time to cease normal work, to rest, to reconnect with God, and to be refreshed. It’s not about being unproductive, but about being renewedly productive in God’s presence.

Jesus is the Greater Rest

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We are busier than ever. We think to ourselves, if only there was more hours in a day. If only rest or sleep weren’t so necessary. There is always pressure to do more, to work harder, and to rest less. Our egos are boosted by what we can get done but in the process we are sacrificing our souls. The busier we are the less we rest and the more we are exhausted by an always-demanding slave master.

Busyness isn’t a sin. Work is necessary and good. God is pleased by hard work. But being busy in an endless pursuit of things that leave us empty and unsatisfied cannot be pleasing to God. Sometimes the most godly thing we can to is stop and listen. We need to be still. We need to rest.

There is only One who never stops working. One who never tires. One who never takes a break. He is God. Even when he rested on the seventh day of creation it wasn’t because he was weary, but because he knew humans needed an example and would be exhausted from six days of hard work. God is wise. Rest is wisdom from God.

Rest for Israel was more than just sabbath rest or a much needed vacation in the Promised Land after wandering in the Wilderness for 40 years (Ex.34:6-7). It was a temporary rest that pictured a greater rest to come—an eternal rest with God forever. Rest ultimately is being with God, a heavenly rest.

There are five important times in history that God offered rest to humanity: 1) Creation (Hebrews 4:4; cf. Gen. 2), 2) David in the midst of battling (v.7), 3) Wandering in the Wilderness (v.5; Ps. 95:7-11), Joshua enters the Promised Land (v.8), and our Sabbath salvation (v.9). The final rest is ultimately secured for us in Christ. Jesus is the greater rest.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:1-13)

Rest is a means of showing God’s care and grace to his people. It bolsters our faith and trust in God, today.  It reminds us to realign our strength. When life punches us in the gut we can trust that God is faithful and we can trust and obey him, even when we feel like giving up in moments of exhaustion. Resting in King Jesus is the great remedy for the soul.

 

Questions for Reflection:

  • What is exhausting you right now? How is God calling you to rest as a result of this passage?
  • What do you fear the most? What do you fear that could reveal an unbelieving heart?
  • How is the illustration of Israel’s unfaithfulness and unbelief helpful for us?
  • How do you respond when life punches you in the gut?
  • What does it look like to get serious about your spiritual heart condition? (v.12-13)
  • How is the Word of God a powerful and penetrating scalpel to help expose the heart?
  • How is giving a heart check or exam a community process? (vs. 2, 11-13)

Jesus offers rest to rebels

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Western culture has made rebellion an “in” thing. Just listen for a few seconds to the news media talk about the nations leaders or watch how Hollywood portrays the bad guy as the likable hero. Rebellion isn’t just the product of the Roaring 20’s or Rockin’ 50’s and 60’s, but youth and adult alike from every generation are prone to private and public disrespect of authority.

Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. Yet God did not forget them (Ex. 2:23ff). In fact, he showed them immense mercy by raising up Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt through extraordinary miracles. It didn’t take long for the people of Israel to forget all the miraculous things God had done to free them from the hardships in Egypt. You’d think after all they saw God do it would be enough to keep them on the straight and narrow, but within three days they were already complaining. Their hearts became hard. And for 40 years they wandered in the Wilderness until they reached the border of the Promised Land. Many, including Moses, did not enter “[God’s] rest” because of the people collective rebellion (vs.7-11, 16-19)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” – Hebrews 3:7-19

When the author of Hebrews says, “Take care,” it is meant to be a warning to all generations who follow Jesus (v.12). Like Israel, we are prone to wander. Our hearts gravitate towards hardness and anti-authority. We are bent towards unbelief in God’s character and promises. No one is exempt.

At the heart of every problem is the problem in the heart. The heart grows hard. Yet there is a cure: a tender teachable heart. Intentionally surround yourself with brothers and sisters who will frequently challenge and correct your heart and be open to changing the attitude of your heart (vs.13-14; 10:23-25). If not we will fall into the same mindset as Pharaoh, who heard from God’s servant and saw many supernatural wonders, but rejected God flat out and became hardhearted.

A rebels heart is never at rest. Rest is found when you joyfully trust God, willingly submit yourself to the community of faith, and lovingly exhort one another. Enter his rest.

 

Questions for Reflection:

  • What is the meaning of “rest” (v.11)?
  • Why are people, even Jesus followers, prone to wander, hardheartedness, and bent on unbelief?
  • What leads to a hard heart? What are the dangers of developing a hard heart?
  • Why is the responsibility of all Christians to share the load in encouraging one another to have a tender and teachable heart?  Who do you allow to ask tough questions of your heart?
  • How can we exhort one another every day, stir one another in their faith and confidence, and share the load of helping one another not to be hardened by sin?

sabbath

Posted in 10 Commandments, churchTagged , , , 1 Comment

sarah-on-the-sabbath

It is interesting that God loves to remind us about important things. He knows our memories can be weak at times.  To remember is to take what we know and apply it to our lives. Fourth Commandment is to “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

In other words, we are to stop working and start worshiping. We are to stop pursuing our passions for one day and make God our passion. We are commanded to worship God with our time. We are not to do our own thing, but His thing on His day.

Does this command mean that I am given a mandate by God to be lazy at least one-day week? God did not give us this command so that we would sit around and do nothing. God is concerned about us. For at least one day a week God wants us to stop what we are pursuing and pursue Him. God gave us this command for several reasons:

1. It is for your good. God knows that we need a day of rest and refocus. Sometimes we think we might miss out on something in life if we do not cram-pack ever minute of every day with something. Yet we can miss out on life itself if we do not obey this command. Jesus confront the religious leaders of His day about this very thing (Mark 2:27 “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”). They were so OCD about not working on the Sabbath that they wrote a book of rules to protect themselves from disobeying the law, all the while they were missing the real purpose of the day: to worship God.

2. It grows your faith. We need more worship in our lives, period. We are over worked and under-worshiped. We make time to relax and spend time with friends, but infrequently do we carve out time for our Creator and life-Sustainer. When we trust God and put Him first, He wont let us down because worshiping God enriches our faith.

So how do we apply this Sabbath command to our lives?

1. Remember God (Get Deep). Over the past few weeks we have talked about who God is. He is not some chump, He is Creator-God. If we think about God in this way (i.e. love, grace, holy, etc.) our natural response will be to worship Him.

All over the Bible people worshipped in groups. In the OT they worshipped God in the temple or synagogue. In the NT they worshipped God in homes, on hillsides or wherever they could find a place. Within these worship “meetings” God gave His people life-changing principles and transforming relationships. God loves the church because it is there that we get deep with God and He gets deep with us. Worshipping with other people inspires our personal worship. (Heb.10:25 “Let us not give up on meeting together.”)

The Sabbath day is not a day to putts around, but a day to praise God (Is. 58:13-14). I have been blessed through my church involvement. Through spiritual growth, accountability, confront sin, encouragement when I am struggling spiritually, friendships and significant relationships, and much more. Worshiping God is not a one day a week thing (Sunday or Wednesday night), it is our daily joy.

2. Refocus Your Life (Go Deep). Gods day is a day to do spiritual inventory on your life. Sometimes we need to take the time to restock the selves of our lives spiritually. It is easy to empty out throughout the week.

It took God six days to create the universe and all that is in it. On the seventh day he rested. He looked back on all that He had done and said, “It is good.” After a long week of working we need to step back and ask, “Was it good? Am I thinking godly pure thoughts? Am I saying or doing things that do not honor God? Am I putting Him first? Am I ready to worship this day?”