Many believers are tempted to seek excuses to rationalize not attending church and being late for worship, such as fatigue, busyness, or other engagements. Occasionally, they arrive arrive on time. ------ either because they have a ministry position, or they have a meal appointment with a friend in church.
Recently, I have also realized that I have been a bit lazy in my ministry. To most brethren, the Jesus Loves Hong Kong Church Parade which took place during Lunar New Year holiday, was just a one-day event, but for me, it is a two-month event because I am also responsible for organizing the event. I felt so much pressure during the two months of preparation that I was tempted to part and keep my hands off from matters pertaining to our ministry after the parade, including the Power House, Sunday celebrations, after-parade logistics, compiling the parade highlights, and other tasks. But because of my pastoral role, I could not avoid it. Thank God I have laid down this very liberty of mine. I did not pursuit such a fleshly desire. Nevertheless, even now, I am still tempted to stop, and even angry at God for keeping me occupied, without any moment of peace and rest. But God revealed to me that the "peace" and "rest" I wanted were actually "false peace" and "false rest” because I was not capable of receiving His goodness and glory to the full.
After the parade, I actually had room for "peace" and "rest" from time to time. But in retrospect, every time I did so, I was actually "emptying" my mind, but not presenting myself as empty vessels before Him. On the contrary, my mind was wandering and even fantasizing. In today's devotional, it reads, "Therefore, the Son of Man is also the Lord of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:28). This verse teaches me that if resting is not returning to God or drawing near to Him, the so-called rest is a false rest and meaningless. It is vanity, chasing after the wind. Therefore, even though I did stop for short moments, I was not satisfied and still felt as if I had not rested.
Brothers and sisters, take heed that we exercise godliness, no matter whether you are working, serving, going back to church, working, or resting, you will do it to come close to God abiding in Him, meditating on Jesus Himself, so that you can really enjoy everyday life in intimate fellowship with Him, partaking in His blessedness, thus showing forth His glory, redemption, holiness, power and wisdom. For our relationship with Him is one of unceasing, absolute dependence on Him! And His presence is altogether lovely, goodly and pleasant, isn’t it?