For some time it has been dawning on me the term "The Lord's Day" can feel like a misnomer. Frankly, the first day of the week seems to belong a bit more to the opposition. Although the phrase evokes a soft haze synchronized to background music, the reality is often a starkly jarring contrast. When we had small children, shoes would disappear, water furnaces would cease to heat, cars would refuse to start...Sunday mornings. Innumerable (but probably not to my children) days I lingered in the car, ashamed to follow my family into church because of the tannin that had come out of my mouth, out of my heart as we hurried to get our go-to-meeting-selves to worship -- on point and on time. Godliness was in short supply.
Perhaps I shouldn't have set myself up for failure right at the outset with phrases like "Day of Rest" and "Best Day", appropriated from how-to books with sunny yellow covers and watercolor smiling families. Possibly, warrior terminology would have been a better choice. Weapons and armor were more vital than Mary Janes and bowties, but I have always been a slow learner when my pride obstructs the view. These days my vision is slightly clearer. I anticipate an ambush.
After battling my way to church a few weeks ago, I struggled to submit to words of God's love and provision and kindness and truth. Because lately there is not much evidence of those things in the world around me. Still I stayed, and I bowed before the One who created the whole world out of nothing and is not limited in power or knowledge. It had been impossible to get there. It was incomprehensibly difficult to remain. But there was hope in the message. There is always hope in the message. It comes through scriptures rich with healing and reconciliation and redemption for angry and broken and hurting and helpless people. For all of us. For me.
I don't know much -- in fact, fewer things than I ever thought I knew. Still, I think these Sabbaths on earth are less a foretaste of the eternal rest to come, and more an echoing back through the battle lines that cry of triumph from the front. The victory is certain, but now is not the time to put down the sword. It is not the day to rest from the fight.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...
I was praying specifically for you on a Sunday recently. Psalm 145 has been on my lock screen this week because it tells me of God's goodness when my circumstances seem to testify differently. Psalm 32 promises that God will surround us with shouts of deliverance. Who is shouting? Fellow warriors? I am glad you and I are in the ranks together. I wonder who will shout loudest?
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