York Alliance Family of Churches Podcast

In fascinating bookends to the re-telling of plans for the tabernacle, we see the glory of God on full display. We find out that His glory will always impact us in profound ways that will be clearly seen by the world around us. However, we also recognize that there's a weight to God's glory and that His presence can't be taken lightly.

In the midst of the powerful Exodus story, God reveals His character in a profound way that reverberates throughout the Scriptures. God's declaration of His name is the most quoted passage in the Bible by the Bible, and it the most important place that we can look for a working theology of who God is and what He's like.

The presence of God is a vital marker of God's people. As followers of Jesus, we should long for the distinguishing presence of God, not simply settle for His blessing and provision. In Jesus' presence, we find fullness of life.

It's not simply that rest and margin are healthy for us as followers of Jesus, but weariness also can be dangerous. Israel's weariness in waiting on God made them more susceptible to temptation, idolatry and self-deception…and it will do the same for us. Moses' pattern of intercession is a beautiful model of grace that points to God approaching our weariness with grace while longing for our holiness.

As we wrap up our practice series on Sabbath, we need to recognize that Sabbath calls us to remember. It is a reminder of our humanity, that we're not God, and that we are called to delight in the world around us.

We live in a 24/7 culture of productivity, distraction, burnout and anxiety. If left unchecked, this system will destroy our souls, our bodies, our relationships and our society. Regardless of the world around us, followers of Jesus need to enter into the rest of God in order to display the freedom we've been given in Christ and the hope that Jesus has for the world.

Sabbath has its roots in the creation narrative where God models the rhythm of work and rest. However, much of that rhythm has been lost in our modern world. The deep and ancient roots of Sabbath provide a beautiful framework for pursuing a rich life in Christ.

The human condition has always been restless, but this seems to be especially the case today. Digital distraction and rampant consumerism create barriers that blur the lines between our humanity and the never-resting world around us. However, in the midst of this chaos, Jesus offers rest.

God uniquely gifts each of us with things that are intended for the blessing of the world around us. All vocation is holy to God. What marks us as the people of God is not a sacred vocation, but a sacred rhythm and rest.

The law of God is not given as a list to follow but, rather, as a part of God’s covenant with His people and as a reflection of His character. As such, Jesus was the perfect embodiment of the law and the complete fulfillment of God’s covenant and, through Him, we are invited into the covenant community.