TAKEAWAY: We live at the pace of eternity through three practices: rest as trust, being where our feet are (presence), and asking God to expand our capacity to love​.

HEAD CHANGE: The "why" behind spiritual formation is more important than the "how" - we pursue rhythms of rest and work to become people of love, not just for personal fulfillment.

HEART CHANGE:  When the how of spiritual formation overtakes the why, spiritual practices lose their power to form us and can actually deform us.

LIFE CHANGE: 

• Jesus inseparably joined love for God and love for neighbor - loving people well is the defining characteristic of a mature Christian.

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This powerful message confronts us with a critical question that goes far beyond simple behavior modification: Why do we practice spiritual disciplines like Sabbath, rest, and healthy rhythms? Drawing from Jeremiah 29, we discover that God's call to the exiled people of Judah wasn't to escape their circumstances but to engage deeply with their community—to build homes, plant gardens, and work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon itself. This ancient instruction carries profound implications for us today. We're not saved from the world but for the world. Our personal pace—how we work, rest, and live—isn't just about our own wellbeing; it's about bringing God's renewal to every corner of our communities. When we slow down enough to actually see people as image-bearers rather than obstacles, when we rest deeply in God's love instead of striving endlessly, we become agents of transformation. The fruit of a healthy pace is a renewed community. This challenges the hyper-individualistic gospel we often settle for and invites us into something far greater: partnering with God in the renewal of all things, right here in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and relationships.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When you consider the question 'If Jesus were me, how would he live?', what specific aspects of your daily routine or relationships would need to change?

2. In what ways might your personal pace—whether hurried or restful—be shaping the emotional and spiritual atmosphere of those around you?

3. How does understanding that 'you are not saved from the world, but for the world' challenge or reshape your view of your faith's purpose?

4. When have you asked God 'Why have you allowed this?' or 'How long will this last?' and how did your faith journey through those questions shape you?

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PRAYER:  "Holy Spirit, give us images of faces of people in our lives that we need to pray for. Show us areas in our community where we can bring renewal. Lead us to be slow enough to love well, faithful enough to work well, and rested enough to live well. Help us remember that our small acts of faithful work today are seeds in Your coming kingdom. We are open. Speak to our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen."

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“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Micah 6:8

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