This week our family returned from our stint of long service leave. It was a great time of reconnecting with precious friends and family, having some adventures and making memories as a family. We're very thankful to God for the break and those who stepped up while we are away!
We've come home (yes, Wellington is our home!) excited about the next season of serving with God's people in this place.
While away, it got me thinking a bit about holidays - why we take them and what they are for? I think our society has holidays all the wrong way around.
Many of our friends and family, they live for their holidays. They come home to work but are really just hanging out until the next break, big or small. It is as though 'holidays' is where you really live life and 'home' and 'work' is what you need to do to be able to take your holidays.
But I'm not sure that's good or healthy or biblical!
'Real' life is at home and work and school in relationship with people. Loving and serving others as we seek to glorify God, grow as his followers and expand his kingdom. That's what life is all about and we do it around the dinner table, at the school gate, over a coffee and with God's people on a Sunday or mid-week group.
Holidays can be an important time of rest and refreshment (if you don't have small children!). They're a great opportunity to explore God's wonderful creation. Thanks be to God for holidays!
But that rest and refreshment and inspiration is so that we can come back to normal life and get on with the real task of following Jesus with everything we've got!
As Paul addresses the household slaves (that's a question for another day!) in Colossians he says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Our hope and future isn't the next break but it is our inheritance from the Lord. So while we wait for that great eternal rest, let's get stuck in together serving Jesus and those around us with all our heart, as working for the Lord.
Grace & peace,
Andrew
eNews - 14th October 2022