Daily Office for April 25, 2011 - Perseverance

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Devotional
 & Scripture

Why do we often feel like giving up or quitting? A primary reason we are tempted to give up is other people….the less than 20% whose major role it is in life to encourage others to toss in the towel. These “white flag” specialists never run out of excuses you and I ought to use for quitting. I have met many “why-sweat-it” experts on the three continents where I have lived life.

I would imagine Anne Mansfield Sullivan had a host of folks telling her that the blind, seven-year-old brat wasn’t worth her trouble. But Anne persevered—in spite of temper tantrums, physical abuse, mealtime madness, and even thankless parents. In her heart she knew it was worth all the pain. Indeed she was right. Within two years the young girl was able to read and write in braille. She eventually graduated from Radcliffe College, where Miss Sullivan had “spelled” each lecture into her hand, and Helen Keller devoted the rest of her life to aiding the deaf and the blind.

Perseverance is difficult but it always pays. It is a costly investment but the dividends are so much greater than the original outlay that you’ll almost forget the price. In some cases the final benefits are so significant that you may wonder why you ever hesitated in the beginning.

When I think of Jesus on the Mt. of Olives I am encouraged that even he felt like quitting. He cried: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). But He persevered; never quit…even when the drops of blood pushed though on his forehead from the stress of anticipated suffering.

You and I can recall a time or two when we felt like quitting too. We also remember a time or two when God could have (and perhaps should have) wiped us off the face of the earth. But he didn’t. Why? Because of the great truth in Philippians 1:6:

He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ—right up to the time of His return—developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Whatever you do, don’t quit! God in not through with you yet!

4) Questions to Consider Where is God leading you to practice perseverance?

5) Prayer
Lord, give me courage today.  Help me resist temptation to give up.  Help me see that you have crafted a unique journey for me.  I surrender my needs and desires to be in control. Lord over my life, Jesus.  In your name I pray.  Amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

Daily Office - Discovering the Rhythm of Sabbath Pt. 10

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading—Deuteronomy 5: 12-15

“Observe the Sabbath day 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 day to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox; your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt 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.

3) Devotional
 Sabbath was intended to shape our lives as a liberated people. The fourth commandment calls for free time for people who had been enslaved.

            "The Deuteronomy reason for Sabbath-keeping is that our ancestors in Egypt went for four hundred years without a vacation (Deuteronomy 5:15). Never a day off. The consequence: they were no longer considered persons but slaves. Hands. Work units. Not persons created in the image of God but equipment for making brick and building pyramids. Humanity was defaced." --Eugene Peterson

Sabbath-keeping is meant to be an experience of the truth that you are not a “doing machine” but a deeply loved son or daughter of God. God is not interested in simply using you to get work done: He delights in you. And he provides free time once a week so that you might relish your release from oppression and slavery.

4) Questions to Consider
How might the truth that “God doesn’t want to use you but enjoy you” give you a vision for celebrating the Sabbath?

5) Prayer
LORD, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing that I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these minutes before you, all I can say is “Thank you.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)