Category: Devotional Thoughts

We’ve had a dry spell here in the Philippines—until this week. Storms have come in and brought a lot of rain. Heavy rains cancel classes due to flooding, etc. Our ministry goes right along with the class schedule, so our ministry has been shut down along with classes.

It is frustrating to have a week’s worth of Bible studies and other ministry opportunities canceled. Regardless, I know that God is in control. He has chosen to give us a week of rest. This has caused me to think about the concept of the Sabbath and rest.

We know that God rested when He created our world (Genesis 2:2). The Almighty did not need to rest, but He did this in order to give us a pattern. He later commanded His people to rest on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8-11). The actual day became less important when Jesus brought us into the new covenant (Colossians 2:16-17). The principle of the Sabbath (a time of resting), however, is still just as important as it was in the beginning. Here are some truths that this week has reminded me of:

A time of rest focuses our attention on God:
We build relationships by spending time with each other. If we wish to know God, we have to dedicate time just for Him. This means spending time with Him alone and worshipping Him with other believers. According to the Bible, “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (Luke 5:16). If Jesus needed this, how much more do we need it!

A time of rest allows us to physically recover from work:
Medical science has confirmed the importance of rest. Without it, our bodies and minds simply do not work as well. If we are always pushing ourselves without proper rest, we will suffer physical and psychological consequences. In extreme cases, a physical or psychological breakdown will happen and impose a Sabbath on us.

A time of rest gives us a realistic perspective of our roles:
We tend to overestimate our own importance, as if the world would stop without us. Some sacrifice everything (social life, family, etc) for the sake of their careers. Ministers like me are often more guilty of this than anyone else. This week has reminded me that virtually everything I do can be shut down overnight.

A time of rest reminds us to use our time wisely:
Jesus told His disciples, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work” (John 9:5). Jesus was referring to His limited time here on earth. Like Jesus, all of us have limited time here. We will experience a “permanent Sabbath” (death) in which we can no longer work. Temporary rest times remind us of this fact.

I recently shared this message at Full Cup. Just check their website if you’re interested in hearing it.

He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
-Matthew 13:54-58

“Familiarity breeds contempt” is a commonly used expression in the States. It means that when we know someone, we tend to take them for granted and even treat them disrespectfully. This is one reason that it can be challenging to get along with the people that live with us (family, roommates, etc).

As I have mentioned before, most people here have some idea of who Jesus is. They’ve heard stories about Him and have probably even heard messages about His life. I’m thankful, of course, that most Filipinos know of Jesus’ importance. The problem, however, is that religious environments can actually create apathy and misunderstanding.

Let’s consider what happened to Jesus in His own hometown. He preached to those who had seen Him grow up. They thought they knew Jesus, so they did not accept Him as the Christ. He was simply a local carpenter to them—a fixture of everyday life. Unfortunately, this same attitude is prevalent now. For many people, Jesus is just a figurine on a dashboard, a parade decoration, or someone to greet on Sunday. Many are simply not interested in allowing Him to have the role of Lord and Savior in daily life. Is Jesus just a religious “fixture” in the background of your life? Do you know Him or just know about Him?

It seems the people of Nazareth believed that the Messiah should come from a mysterious or wealthy family background. Here’s the problem with their belief: it is not found in Scripture. Once again, I still see the same problem on a daily basis. People believe religious traditions or bizarre theories (such as the Da Vinci Code) instead of reading God’s word. Have you studied the Bible so that you can know the truth about Jesus?

There’s another interesting twist to this story. In verse 55, we see references to Jesus’ mother and brothers. This was a derogatory statement, since Jewish people normally referred to someone by their father’s name (even in the case of a widowed mother). Jesus Himself was amazed at their contempt and unbelief.

The people in Jesus’ hometown should have been the first to believe in Him. Instead, they only experienced a few miracles because of their unbelief. Most importantly, they missed the miracle of truly knowing Him. Let’s not be guilty of the sin of Nazareth. Familiarity may breed contempt, but true intimacy with the Lord Jesus will produce just the opposite. Don’t miss the miracle!