Last words to my former congregation

"Isn't worshipping the Father serving God?" "Bukankah menyembah Bapa itu melayani Tuhan?" -those were my last words to my former church as I hinted strongly that they need not worry about what I will do in the future. Quite often, people think I am out of a job or ministry which I never felt even once in my life after beginning full time ministry more than 31 years ago. I have never felt need for a letter or human appointment to say that I am serving God or doing this or that for God. If other people acknowledge my ministry and calling, well and good. If not, it is their loss, not mine. Even when I wait for the next phase of my ministry, I have never stopped serving God.

In my free time so to speak I have ample time. worshipping God freely without the need to do anything or be involved in any ministry. One feature of Israelite life is the amount of holidays they have, not just the weekly Sabbath, but the feast days, the Sabbatical year and Jubilee when they have to rest a full two years before working again their land. 

Perhaps God has meant it that His people have ample time to relax and worship Him, trusting in His provision during long holiday breaks, normally over one full week or even 8 days. If you factor in travelling say from Nazareth to Jerusalem, celebrating a feast will take the best part of two weeks plus. And that's half a month out of work so to speak. 

Now I work just as hard. I get up early in the morning, the last two days at 3am, and after one solid hour of quiet time, I start to work at 4.30am on my commentary on John's Gospel. I work in the afternoon and I work in the evening until I feel tired and it's time to go to bed. It's the peace that Jesus gives that sustains me. I stay at home, do my own things, read the Bible, worshipping the Father and wrestling with the text of Scripture and that is surely heavenly and with good health, a real blessing that not many are given to enjoy. All glory be to God!