June 14th, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
I just returned from spending time speaking and teaching at the North Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC. They bought every participant there, lay and clergy, a copy of The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer, and then graciously invited me to speak about the importance of sabbath, rest, and having a spiritual healthy rhythm of life. It was a special time to be in the conference where I started my ministry both as a student at Emory and as a youth pastor at a church in Decatur. As I finished up and prepared to fly out, I was thinking about the responses from the clergy on my reflections about Sabbath. One clergy nearing retirement and passionate about the growth of the church said, “next time they should have you talk about growth and not rest!”
I understand the sentiment. I am wired to work, and I am passionate about working in the church. I want to do ministry alongside other people (both lay and clergy) who care so much about reaching people with the good news of Jesus that they will do anything. The work of God is the most important in the world, and I wish sometimes that we would treat it with the urgency and the passion it deserves.
So it is strange that God tapped me on the shoulder, nudging me to write a daily devotional that centers on prayer. Even stranger that out of that work, I became convinced that honoring the sabbath is the most overlooked and under-appreciated commandment there is. In a world that demands productivity, effort, results, busyness, achievement, and efficiency, establishing a weekly rhythm of rest and sabbath could be one of the more radical habits Christians are called to keep.
God in God’s wisdom decided that six days a week we should work, and work passionately – valuing the tasks that we have been called to do and people we have been given to serve (both at home and in the workplace). But one day a week, God set aside, God marked it as special, and God gave it to us as a gift. On that day, we are called to put God over self, relationships over responsibilities, enjoyment over productivity, boredom over busyness, and the present over worrying about the future.
Rest and work are not opposing forces. Stressing the importance of Sabbath does not take away from the need to pour the best of time, energy, and work into God’s mission. Sabbath is not God saying that the work we do is bad, or that we ought care less about it. Instead, resting allows us to do that work with greater joy, deeper passion, and lasting sustainability. We rest not to escape the work that God has called us to do. But we rest to do that work even better.
If you’re here this weekend, make worship a priority. I would love to see you at church as I continue our series, “Why Do We Do That?” by talking about the part of worship that is maybe the most misunderstood – offering! Enjoy your day, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. We’re preparing for Pride Fest at the end of the month, and I invite you to come and help us to show God’s love for all people. You can join us at Pride no matter who you are or how you identify - we’ll provide all the training you need to work the booth. It’s always a fun and powerful event. I hope you’ll join us. Maybe your Core Group can make it a mid-summer social and work the booth together!
I understand the sentiment. I am wired to work, and I am passionate about working in the church. I want to do ministry alongside other people (both lay and clergy) who care so much about reaching people with the good news of Jesus that they will do anything. The work of God is the most important in the world, and I wish sometimes that we would treat it with the urgency and the passion it deserves.
So it is strange that God tapped me on the shoulder, nudging me to write a daily devotional that centers on prayer. Even stranger that out of that work, I became convinced that honoring the sabbath is the most overlooked and under-appreciated commandment there is. In a world that demands productivity, effort, results, busyness, achievement, and efficiency, establishing a weekly rhythm of rest and sabbath could be one of the more radical habits Christians are called to keep.
God in God’s wisdom decided that six days a week we should work, and work passionately – valuing the tasks that we have been called to do and people we have been given to serve (both at home and in the workplace). But one day a week, God set aside, God marked it as special, and God gave it to us as a gift. On that day, we are called to put God over self, relationships over responsibilities, enjoyment over productivity, boredom over busyness, and the present over worrying about the future.
Rest and work are not opposing forces. Stressing the importance of Sabbath does not take away from the need to pour the best of time, energy, and work into God’s mission. Sabbath is not God saying that the work we do is bad, or that we ought care less about it. Instead, resting allows us to do that work with greater joy, deeper passion, and lasting sustainability. We rest not to escape the work that God has called us to do. But we rest to do that work even better.
If you’re here this weekend, make worship a priority. I would love to see you at church as I continue our series, “Why Do We Do That?” by talking about the part of worship that is maybe the most misunderstood – offering! Enjoy your day, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. We’re preparing for Pride Fest at the end of the month, and I invite you to come and help us to show God’s love for all people. You can join us at Pride no matter who you are or how you identify - we’ll provide all the training you need to work the booth. It’s always a fun and powerful event. I hope you’ll join us. Maybe your Core Group can make it a mid-summer social and work the booth together!
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2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
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March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
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May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
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2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
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