It’s Sunday morning. I arrive at church, a dozen things on my mind:
Did I get the right announcements in the bulletin?
I hope so-and-so comes, it’ll save me a phone call.
How’s my hair look?
Did I buy everything I need for Sunday dinner?
I sense a nudge from God: How do you feel?
Psalm 122:1 (ESV)
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Oops! Time for an attitude adjustment.
In the “good old days” whole communities kept the Sabbath: stores were closed, and folks went home from church to Sunday dinner. Now, Sabbath-keeping a matter of personal choice and discipline. As Jesus commented,
Mark 2:27 (CEV)
People were not made for the good of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for the good of people.
Sabbath-keeping is good for you. Don’t do it because you HAVE to, do it because you WANT to, because the rhythm of setting apart a day for worship, rest and fellowship restores your soul.
Exodus 16:23 (CEV)
He [Moses] told them that the Lord had said, “Tomorrow is the Sabbath, a sacred day of rest in honor of me. So gather all you want to bake or boil, and make sure you save enough for tomorrow.”
God provided two gifts for his people as they headed into the wilderness: bread from heaven and Sabbath rest.
Life was hard in Egypt. Likely they served their masters every day. Weekly rest must have been as enticing as the mysterious manna.
God considered Sabbath rest so essential that he rearranged the laws of nature to make the bread from heaven last an extra day.
How does a typical Sunday play out in your home?
Exodus 20:11 (MSG)
God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.
A holy day–not a work day, shopping day or housework day. If you haven’t given up something for Lent, why not give your Sabbath to God?
I see a connection between “lead us not into temptation” and the 23rd Psalm:
Psalm 23:3, 6 (ESV)
He leads me in paths of righteousness . . .
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In a sermon I heard long ago, the pastor described a shepherd with his trusty sheep dogs, Goodness and Mercy. Imagine Goodness and Mercy nipping at your ankles every time you veer towards temptation!
Lead us not into temptation.
Temptation is not the same as sin. Sometimes folks get confused.
Here’s the biblical definition of sin:
James 4:17 (TLB)
Knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.
Knowing the right thing to do and thinking about not doing it is temptation.
John MacArthur, pastor-teacher of global radio fame, makes an important point:
“Every temptation, directly or indirectly, is the temptation to doubt and distrust God.”
The prayer, “Lead us not into temptation,” is an expression of faith and trust in God. It’s the antidote to doubt and distrust.
In our church, we pray the Lord’s Prayer in unison every Sunday. I have mental images for each phrase. It keeps me focused.
For “lead us not into temptation,” I see God putting a barricade in front of me:
Traditionally, Christians fast during this time before Easter. Did you give up something for Lent?
Without the spiritual component, fasting from certain foods is just a diet. And giving up meat doesn’t mean much if your favorite item on the menu is fish.
I’m fasting from certain time-wasters on the internet. It is tempting to think it ‘s just an exercise in better time management.
Lead me not into the temptation to make Lent all about me.
I really like this verse:
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Blessings up–from me to God.
Blessings down–from God to me.
Much of my daily conversation with God is devoted to blessing God for the blessings he has given me. May your blessings (both directions) outnumber the shamrocks.
