Should we EVER take a break from the LORD?
This is Fall Break week, and not long ago, we enjoyed Summer Break from school and work. Soon it will be Thanksgiving Break and then Christmas Break, followed by Spring Break. We know what comes next—A Summer Break. This cycle might be what children (and children-at-heart people) live for each year. We may love ‘breaks’ more than we love the ‘in-session’ times. In fact, when speaking yesterday with a colleague, she said: “It’s almost Christmas break.” To an educator, the statement means two different outcomes: Grades are DUE! & Semester classes will cease, paving the way for new classes to start anew after Christmas break.
All of these thoughts lead us to ask: Have we ever learned enough, experienced enough, done enough, or worshipped enough?
To help determine the answers, we turn to the source of ALL answers to ALL questions: the Holy Word of God.
The wisest man who ever lived spoke about QUESTION #1—Have we ever LEARNED enough of GOD’S teaching?
“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
(The Proverbs 9: 9 NASB)
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”
ANSWER #1—This side of heaven, we can never be ‘wise’ enough, for we can still become wiser, and we can always increase our learning, seeing more and more and more of JESUS.
The half-brother of Jesus spoke about QUESTION #2—Have we ever EXPERIENCED enough of our heavenly FATHER?
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. . . .”
(The Letter of James 4: 8a NASB)
ANSWER #2—This side of heaven, followers of JESUS will NEVER be near enough to our eternal resting place, so we can always draw closer to our SAVIOR.
The once Christian persecutor who met JESUS one day and became a follower, the apostle Paul spoke about QUESTION #3—Have we ever DONE enough of the LORD’S work?
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 3: 23-24 NASB)
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
ANSWER #3—This side of heaven, believers are to serve God in their work because our efforts are done for HIM and not for people. We have been created to participate in GOD’S WORK.
The anonymous author of The Letter to the Hebrews spoke about QUESTION #4—Have we ever WORSHIPPED GOD enough?
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 10: 23-25 NASB)
not forsaking our own assembling together,
as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
ANSWER #4—This side of heaven, Christians will never be connected enough, worship enough, nor gather enough to praise and glorify the LORD.
When COVID struck against the world, we were forced to stay separated, living in our homes, not seeing our family members, and avoiding all public spaces. IT WAS A HORRIBLE TIME! Since that time, in-person church attendance has continued to fall, while online church attendance has grown. People often say, “I can worship God from my living room, for God is with me everywhere I go,” and while these are true words, still ALONE WORSHIP is just part of the experience the LORD has for HIS church.
Shut-ins, hospital-bound, and those who live in remote places where churches do not exist may need to join online church. However, for the rest of us, it was Augustine, the atheist who became a great Bible theologian, who years ago said: “A discipleship community is what the whole church should be.” The benefits of worshipping together, singing together, greeting one another together, praying together and studying the Bible—together—far exceeds watching church online. WE NEED JESUS & WE NEED FELLOW BELIEVERS “encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (The Letter to the Hebrews 10: 25b NASB) We just cannot enjoy this same fellowship sitting all alone at home.
Thus: Should we EVER take a break from the LORD?
THE FINAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION—This side of heaven, we should not because we can never be ‘wise’ enough, and we can always increase our learning, seeing more and more and more of JESUS. We will NEVER be near enough to our eternal resting place, so we can always draw closer to our SAVIOR. We were created to serve GOD in our work because our daily efforts are done for HIM and not for people. We must grab our shoes and participate in GOD’S WORK. So, in closing, Christians, may we not ‘take a break’ from what we know to be GOD’S TRUTH, for we will never be connected enough (to God), nor will we ever have worshipped enough (to stop), & never will we have gathered with fellow believers enough. We MUST praise and glorify the LORD daily, never breaking!