We are created to love and to serve one another in our work, our families, our country, and our congregation. Today we conclude The Way of Service by learning we were also created to Rest! Biblical rest is taking time to appreciate and enjoy all that God has done for us, in us, and through us. We can rest in our work knowing that God is in the midst of it using even the most mundane tasks for his good and glorious plan for this world. We can rest in our families knowing the power of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ. We can rest in our citizenship because God’s in charge, even when he seems to be absent. And we can rest in our life together at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church as we support, encourage, and challenge one another to live the Jesus Adventure.

As followers of Jesus we hold dual citizenship. We live in a particular country (in our case the USA) but we are also part of God’s eternal kingdom. Here in time that citizenship takes the form of being a member of the Church and ultimately a local congregation. Although many in our time have grown weary of the institutional church and imagine they can follow Jesus privately, The Way of Service bids us view our roles in the congregation as a critical part of the Jesus Adventure.

The Way of Service, following Jesus, includes living in a particular place, at a particular time, with particular laws and forms of government. What is more complicated, confusing and messed up than politics? Cynicism—only seeing and expecting the worst, or surrender—it’s so bad "I give up", are the tempting alternatives. As followers of Jesus we have a unique perspective that can save our sanity and enable us to be good citizens.