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"...it’s a whole lot easier to live in freedom when you have enough support coming in for full paychecks and ministry reimbursements and with a healthy buffer to boot." By Seth J.* December 2021  By: Seth J.* December 2021 I’m an overseas missionary, and I have a confession to make. My wife and I have made financial decisions in recent years that might make you uncomfortable. We put our kids in an international school. We own a couple of stateside rental properties. We take regular family vacations – we even traveled to Hawaii this summer (gasp!) – and we often buy the latest Apple products. But raising and living on support hasn’t always been like this. There were days when I would forbid my wife from posting certain vacation pics on social media. I’m ashamed to admit it, but there were also days when I would subtly attempt to guilt people into supporting us. Even still, we occasionally hear those backhanded comments, such as from the person at church who thinks missionaries shouldn’t own rental properties. Clearly, we cannot control the reactions of others, but we can control ourselves. How have we been able to break the chains of the “poor me” mentality? For one, by God’s grace, we’ve been fully funded for the last two decades. It’s a whole lot easier to live in freedom when you have enough support coming in for full paychecks and ministry reimbursements and with a healthy buffer to boot. Another key for us has been having a deep, instinctive sense of our own ministry calling. The work my wife and I do, mobilizing the global church toward greater involvement in the Great Commission, is a high and worthy calling. It’s not “less than” working for IBM. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about justifying a prosperity gospel approach to support raising. But rather, being firmly rooted in our calling gives us boldness and confidence when approaching prospective supporters. It’s a privilege to mobilize them through their partnership with us. A third key for us has been generous and sacrificial giving to the Lord. In addition to our regular tithing in support of our local church and several different ministries and missionaries, we have experienced great joy in making some large investments in special ministry projects that have aligned with the ministry interests our family has. As ministry workers, it’s easy to excuse ourselves from sacrificial giving, thinking that’s something reserved for our supporters with means. But just because we’ve committed to vocational Christian ministry, why shouldn’t we receive the privilege of funding a Bible translation for an unreached people group, or investing in a strategic initiative to help reach a gospel-deprived part of the world? When it comes to living on support, far too many gospel workers are shackled by a cycle of fear, insecurity, and hopelessness that cripples their families and ministries. What a game-changer it would be if God were to move those shackles and set us free for a lifetime of spiritually healthy, vision-driven, fully funded service to our Lord! Seth J.* has served in vocational ministry for the past 27 years, including 10+ years in Asia where he and his family still serve. He has previously served in campus ministry in the United States as well as at a key university in East Asia. He also directed a contextualized ministry for East Asian international students in the U.S. Now a frontier mobilizer with the Center for Mission Mobilization, Seth and his family are working to mobilize believers in this strategic part of the world. He and his wife have three teenagers and have been raising support for over 25 years. * For security reasons, name has been changed. As unique individuals, our worship will look different from one to another, but we all begin in the same place: submission. By: Cass Harris, Worship Pastor at The Grove Church in Fayetteville, AR.  Why Worship is Crucial By: Cass Harris December 2021 My official title, Worship Pastor, is a little funny to me. So I’m in charge of ALL the forms of Worship? Got it. When people ask me what I do, I usually say that I take care of the music and tech for my church on Sundays. It would be way easier to just say Worship Pastor because we all know what that means, but I’m a weird human who thrives on making basic things difficult and I need you to know, that I know, there are more ways to worship than singing songs together on a Sunday morning. Oh man, rereading this is a little embarrassing. Worship is surrender. Think about that for a minute. Do you agree? Don’t we surrender to things that have power over us? Maybe not consciously, but somewhere in there, we do it. Worship of our Father is a conscious decision. It’s intentional. As unique individuals, our worship will look different from one to another, but we all begin in the same place: submission. As an individual, I say, God, I am not enough! God, you’ve known me since before the beginning of time, and I am overwhelmed by this knowledge. Oh God, your ways are far too superior to mine, and yet you have made a way for me to commune with you. God, I am not alone. You are always with me. We should recognize and respond to His greatness, His plan, and the fact that He is. Everyday! When I read scripture, I am continually reminded that we are meant to do what we do together. We are not meant to be on our own. Because of God’s great love for us, we should show kindness to others, take care of the marginalized, give generously to those in need, study the text, which are all acts of worship. We should do all these things together. And then when we gather on Sundays, we are coming together as one to sing to our Creator and Redeemer. Sunday songs are not a thing unto themselves. They are a response to God’s love, generosity, kindness, and patience. I think sometimes we worship the music that we sing in our churches. They become the focus of our attention. I’ll be the first to admit that music has power that is hard to reckon with. It moves me in a way few others can. But to give the song all the attention is like receiving a gift and immediately turning away without recognition to the giver. We consume it, use it up, and then turn and ask for more. Let’s return to churches with thankful hearts, awe for God’s greatness, and recognition of community over individualism. Let’s worship together! Cass Harris is the Worship Pastor of The Grove Church in Fayetteville, AR. He’s married to Brandi and together they have 3 kids. Cass is a singer/songwriter, loves cooking, Sooner football, woodworking and probably some other things. . How can you love your neighbor as yourself if YOU are not loving yourself? By: Brandi Harris, MS, LPC & LMFT November 2021  The Importance of Mental Health in Ministry By: Brandi Harris, MS, LPC & LMFT November 2021 How can you love your neighbor as yourself if you’re NOT loving yourself? As a professional counselor, most of my clients come into my office with some form of self-loathing. They are unkind to themselves. They overwork as if they have an internal slave driver. They beat themselves up for making mistakes. They say hateful things in their mind about who they are and who they should be. They condemn themselves in ways they would NEVER condemn another human being, let alone a child or a beloved pet. The internal voice they report rarely sounds like Jesus. How we treat ourselves is very closely correlated with our mental and emotional health. Ministers who are constantly drinking in hateful berating can’t rationally expect to have sincere love and joy overflowing from their hearts for ministering. They can preach the right words for a bit, but how long can they run on their own steam? As anger, bitterness, pain, resentment, depression, and anxiety make regular appearances in an injured world, we require regular respite to rest, reflect, and heal. We need to reconnect with our Savior and allow time for the Gospel to penetrate and redeem our injuries. Without those moments of recovery, our hearts mirror the world more than the image of Christ. Despite extensive knowledge of the Word and intense dedication, the servant of God who has not cared for their heart begins to experience symptoms of injury: exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, oversleeping, rage, paralyzing fear, an inability to stop thinking, unresolved conflict, hidden sin, relational issues, and self-loathing (to name a few!). Where can we rest, reflect, and heal? Personal time with Jesus is always a win, but as our relationship with Jesus is communal (we are together the Body of Christ), we also need safe communal spaces to be small, injured, weak humans. Any leader who thinks themself above this is a leader worshiping themself. We all need regular time with people who do not need us to lead, teach, or disciple them. People we can trust to carry us when we are tired. People who won’t condemn us for being human. People who celebrate with us as God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, rather than in our performance. Who are your safe people? Where are your safe spaces? Care for your mind as Jesus would have you care for it—with compassion and kindness, grace and protection. Find support now. Brandi K. Harris, MS, LPC & LMFT is an author, counselor, and marriage and family therapist. She loves art, Jesus, and people. You can find more of her writing at www.ittakesabreath.com, including her most recent book, Love Well. She is available for speaking and teaching. "We don't need to look around and ask how people can serve US...,but instead how can we serve THEM?" By: Virgil Lee October 27th, 2021  Today, as we wrap up our Autumn Series, we will continue our focus on SERVING OTHERS..."Service Speaks". Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN:
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NKJV)
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Virgil Lee
October 27th, 2021 Service. So, what does that mean to a believer? It can mean many things; it can mean going to the mission field or working in a church. It can be caring for someone in your community. It could be just volunteering. But what does service mean to you? Let's dig a little bit deeper into that beyond just the application to the heart. Jesus came as Lord of all to us on earth. How did He respond to this conversation about who will be first? Our world is all about who's at the top. What does it mean to be on the top and be the best of the best and to be in control? Jesus gave us a different mindset. One place where that is most seen is in Mark 10:45. Mark 10:45 (NKJV) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He came to serve and not to be served. He gave us the example to live out in our world. We don't need to look around and ask how people can serve us, but how we can serve them. Sometimes we can talk about a lot of things with service. Our talk is cheap. Many times we don’t really follow through, so talk is cheap. But your service will speak. What does your service say about your priorities and your purpose in life? Where are you investing your time, treasure and talent as you serve those around you? Is it to get more for me or to bring the gospel to those around me? Those are some deep questions when we talk about service. You could even be serving a lot of good things worthy of what God has for you to bring the gospel to your friends and your neighbors, and for some of you, the people around the world. So talk is cheap, but your service speaks. I'm going to leave you with this one last verse out of 1 John: 1 John 3:18(NLT) "Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." Talk is cheap. The service speaks. Serving others with zero expectation of return. By Shelli Jones 10/20/21  Today, we will focus on SERVING OTHERS..."It's Not About Me". Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN:
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
DEVOTION OF THE DAY*: By: Shelli Jones
10/20/21 My husband and I were married in the spring of 2004. Shortly thereafter, we joined a bible study group for young married and engaged couples as we collectively went through a book called “The Marriage Builder” by Dr. Larry Crabb. My eyes were opened in those first years of marriage, and one specific portion of the book really did a number on me. See, I realized... I am an incredibly selfish person. In the book, he challenges the reader to look at service to our spouses from a new perspective. To serve them with zero expectation of return. To love and serve our spouse with a joyful heart, fully accepting the fact that they may never serve you back. (SAY WHAT?? I have to serve my husband and I may never get any in return?) Praise the Lord, my husband is awesome and very much serves our family, and I pray that you also experience mutual love, respect, and servanthood within your marriage and relationships*. But...isn't this just like Jesus? Jesus loves and serves us with no expectation of return. I mean…the man died for me. (I have not died for anyone today. Have you?) Christ washed his disciples feet. He fed thousands. He journeyed (on foot) for days to preach the gospel. He is the most selfless human thats ever walked the earth. And we’ve all got a lot to learn. Do we work and serve others, only to receive something in return? Or do we work and serve others to bring honor to Jesus? Do we grumble, complain, or fight? Or do we work with a happy heart? I would be lying if I said that I did NOT struggle with this. This brings me to the feet of Jesus, constantly. In Philippians, we’re told “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4) My work in ministry is not about me. Your work in ministry is not about you. It’s about reflecting Christ to the world...in humility, counting others more significant than ourselves and serving them. ...I guess Dr. Crabb’s book was right. *If you need someone to talk to, regarding toxic and hard relationships within ministry, please reach out to us. (Email us at [email protected] ) We would love to come alongside you and help you navigate and lead others in difficult relationships and perhaps how to set healthy boundaries. If you are experiencing hardships or abuse within your marriage or family, we encourage you to seek help! Reach out to your Pastor or a licensed counselor. If you need help finding one, please contact us at [email protected] "Instead of food or whatever else we are choosing to give up for a season, we are spending time completely focused on, and living in, His presence." By: Cami Lee 10/13/21  Today, we will continue our focus on FASTING..."Focused on His Presence". Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN: Before we begin today, a reminder...Today is on the subject of Fasting. We encourage you to consider joining us in fasting from something today. If you didn't already start, pray and consider starting now or tomorrow.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Cami Lee
10/13/21 I don’t think any of us like to deprive ourselves of something that we enjoy, so fasting is probably not a lot of people’s favorite topics. I like food; I don’t like going hungry and my family definitely doesn’t like it when I’m "hangry". So what’s the point of doing it? Is it a type of righteous hunger strike? Is it kind of like holding our breath until God does what we ask or something in the spiritual realm breaks? Unfortunately, sometimes it can be misconstrued to seem like that’s what it is, because often breakthrough happens during or after a fast. Why is that? In Matthew 4 it tells us about when Jesus had spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil. Satan said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread (Matt. 4:3).” Jesus could have easily done that, and I’m sure that would have been a major temptation, but instead He said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ (Matt. 4:4)”. I think He completely summarized the point of fasting in that statement When we eat, our food becomes a part of us. We take in its nutrients and it becomes our energy, our strength, a very important source of life, and a lot of times it can even affect our attitudes and outlook on life. Once we eat it, the good things we take from it stay in our bodies and enter our bloodstream. Think of what would happen if we looked at God’s Word in that light! When we fast as we ought, we are making ourselves give up something that is life-giving to us and shifting our focus from our own needs and problems to God and what He has to say to us. Instead of food or whatever else we are choosing to give up for a season, we are spending time completely focused on, and living in, His presence. No wonder breakthroughs so often happen when we fast! We can live a lifestyle of fasting if we shift our way of thinking. Jesus becomes our life, our strength, our energy, and our comfort. He enters into everything we do and every breath we take. That is what it means to abide in Christ. If you’ve never done much fasting in your life, now may be a great time to start. I know that sometimes health or certain seasons of life can make it difficult to completely give up all food, even for a short time. If that’s the case, maybe you could do a Daniel fast (only eat certain foods and drink only water) or give up something else that you would definitely notice its absence. I think you’ll be amazed how your perspective will change if you take that time to put God in that place instead. Throughout the Bible, acceptable sacrifices were the best, the precious, the valued—not the unwanted, the least, and the blah. By: Virgil Lee October 6th, 2021  Today, we'll focus on FASTING..."What is the point?". Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN: Before we begin today, a reminder...Today and next Wednesday are both on the subject of Fasting. We encourage you to consider joining us in fasting from something today. If you didn't already start, pray and consider starting now or tomorrow.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Virgil Lee October 6th, 2021 Fasting… It’s become somewhat of a buzzword over the past few years, with many people adopting Intermittent fasting as a dieting and healthy lifestyle choice. On the other hand, fasting is a part of multiple religions around the world, from Islam to Buddhism to Christianity; you pick a religious background, it most likely has some form of fasting involved. But what is the point of it… to starve myself for a certain amount of time to get God to move on my behalf? Sounds a bit like a child holding their breath until a parent gives in and allows the child to get what they want. That doesn’t seem to make much sense. Or it is to prove how spiritual we are by the greatness of our suffering. That doesn’t sound much better. From a spiritual standpoint, fasting gets a bad reputation not because of its purpose but from people's perceptions of fasting. Let’s take a few moments to look deeper into the point of fasting as a follower of Jesus. Over the years, I have done short fasts (1-3days) and longer (14-21 days), and even two 40 day fasts. I have found that during a fast, far more is revealed to me about me than it is God doing what I desire. I believe the ultimate point of a fast is about choosing to sacrifice something to focus one’s energy and time upon the Lord. Yes, sometimes there is a quantum shift, and a miracle happens in the natural, but many times the shift is about you and your mindset. We are getting in alignment with God and His plans. There are many things’ people can fast; the most common is food, but it can be anything that you put your time, treasure, and talent into. And you step away from it for a time to pray in a more intentional way to hear from the Lord and experience His divine intervention in your life. In truthfulness, as a believer, a fasting lifestyle is a powerful thing and not something to be dreaded but celebrated. Not for the pain of the fast, but the gaining of the deeper relationship and walk with Christ. There are many verses about fasting in the Bible, and the entire chapter of Isaiah 58 speaks about a holy fast that the Lord honors. I encourage you to go read it. Instead of focusing on a verse about fasting, I want us to think about Romans 12:1 (NKJV)12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. What does that have to do with fasting?...everything. If your mentality about your life isn’t centered on being a living sacrifice for the Lord, you will fall into the trap of trying to get God to do things your way or that you are better than another person when it comes to fasting. What are you willing to fast (sacrifice) for a season to grow your relationship with Jesus deeper? It’s not just about food. Some people are unable to fast due to physical reasons or their lifestyle. But we can all choose to fast something that has value in our lives. For you, it might be fasting your favorite tv show, social media, a hobby, caffeine, chocolate, snacks, soda; the list is endless. I would suggest asking the Holy Spirit to show you what it is that you should fast and have someone you trust help hold you accountable to it and not give up. Also, it is beneficial to write down a goal for the fast; what are you hoping to get out of it? Be honest with yourself. It might not happen, but at the end of the fast, it's always interesting to see what the Lord does during a time that is dedicated to Him. Along with that, remember, when you fast, it needs to be you giving up something that matters to you. Throughout the Bible, acceptable sacrifices were the best, the precious, the valued—not the unwanted, the least, and the blah. One last thing, fasting is never about the show. When you fast, do it with the right attitude and heart. If you cannot fast with correct motives, it will not be a benefit to you. I believe that fasting can have HUGE benefits for your spiritual life; it will avail profound moments between you and the Lord if you will just take the step and try it. You don't have to start with a 40-day food fast, but maybe fasting one meal a week to pray and read your Bible, or it might be fasting media for an hour during which you go for a walk and pray and spend time with Jesus. The point of fasting is intentionally giving something up to gain something great...a deeper understanding of the heart of God. Be a Pray'er, before you attempt to be a Do'er. By: Aaron Babyar September 29th, 2021  **NOTE: Please be sure to read the special note at the very bottom, regarding the subject matter for the upcoming two weeks.** Today, we'll continue our focus on Prayer,...specifically our common NEED for prayer. Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN:
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, submit your request to God." Philippians 4:6
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Aaron Babyar
September 29th, 2021 Whether your title is Pastor, Volunteer, Youth Director, Missionary, or Church Planter…..your title doesn’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things. We ALL have a common need that is so simple yet so profound….and that is a need to be in Prayer. You shouldn’t DARE to endeavor in kingdom minded work with out it. Prayer is something that we almost take for granted when we are ministry leaders, but it is crucial to soul care and overcoming anxiety. Philippians 4:6 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." How about if, before you jump into serving the Lord today, you instead pause...You listen to Him...You pray and talk to Him about what you need to do. Prepare your heart and mind for the task God has put in front of you. Oswald Chambers declared that “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer IS the greater work.” Be a Pray'er, before you attempt to be a Do'er. Listen the Holy Spirit, then go forward with his guidance. * NOTE: October 6th and 13th will be on the subject of FASTING. We encourage you to set aside those two Wednesdays and join us in FASTING from something. If you think about it...the Lords Prayer is an outline on HOW to pray. By: Shelli Jones September 22, 2021  Today, we'll focus on Prayer, specifically on How To Pray... Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN:
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:9-13
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Shelli Jones September 22nd, 2021 Do you ever lack motivation and feel lost on WHAT or HOW to pray? Perhaps you're in a season when your prayers feel empty or shallow? Sometimes, we just need to follow the model that was laid out before us, in order to nudge us along. R&B singer Aretha Franklin had a song called "I say a little prayer for you". In the song, she literally goes throughout her day talking to God...asking him to answer her prayers and bless a relationship that she's in. Even when she's brushing her hair and putting on her make up, she talks to God. Now, our God is not a Genie in a bottle, granting wishes, however we are invited to commune with him daily through prayer. In fact Jesus gave us a road map on exactly how to pray. When he was giving the Sermon on the Mount to his followers and disciples, he said “when you pray, pray like this…” and he gave them the Lord's Prayer. It’s an outline, if you think about it... Step 1 - PRAISE HIM: “Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be your name...” Step 2 - PROCLAIM TRUTH: “...Your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven..." Step 3 - ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND HELP: “...Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us...” Step 4 - SAVE US: “...and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" And then end with gratitude and thanks. It's a simple outline, but a very powerful one. If you struggle with HOW or WHAT to pray, just follow the outline. Make it personal. Add in specific names, events, burdens, and joys. I encourage you to think about it as you go throughout your day praying. Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. It is a GIFT! By: Aaron Babyar 9/15/21  Today, we'll continue our focus on Rest, specifically SABBATH Rest... Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started... SLOWING DOWN:
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27
DEVOTION OF THE DAY: By: Aaron Babyar September 15th, 2021 I was surprised recently when I was speaking with a fellow ministry leader. The person speaking, in an effort to speak glowingly about another ministry leader, remarked on how that individual was so busy and never takes a day off. That gave me pause. In my experience….that’s not a sign of health. In fact quite the opposite - that’s a sign of possible pending breakdown or perhaps even hidden sin. I wish that wasn’t true…but having largely been in vocational ministry of some sort for over 30 years….that has been something I’ve witness repeatedly. I don’t wish for a fall from grace, but THEY NEED REST. I need rest. YOU need rest. Yes we were made for work, but we were also made for other things including REST. God himself modeled this, and if it’s good enough for God, why isn't that good enough for you and me? Most would agree that Christ followers may define what sabbath is differently, but at a minimum I suggest it involves rest from busyness of life and ministry work. Sabbath is always meant to provide restoration and re-creation for believers…in connection with your creator.. We shouldn’t get caught up in legalism like the Pharisees had when they thought about Sabbath. Rather, we should take Sabbath as a gift that God gave to us so that we could be restored. Jesus says "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27 In short, I’m paraphrasing and taking great liberty here, but Jesus may have been saying: DON'T GET IT TWISTED. Understand the spirit of sabbath. Apply it in a way that serves its original purpose. What Jesus is offering is both incredible freedom and responsibility. So Christ follower, ministry leader, stranger, friend….practice Sabbath because it’s a gift that you need. |
