"So, You Want a Day Off?"

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:12-16 NIV).

I read an amusing answer to the question in the title for today’s Morning Devotional. Someone recounted the days in the year as an answer as follows:

There are 365 days in a year available to work. In these days of the year there are 52 weeks, of which you have two days off. That leaves 261 days available to work. You spend 16 hours away from work using up another 170 more days leaving only 91 days available. You get 30 minutes for “coffee breaks” each day and that amounts to 23 more days leaving only 68 days to work. You get a one hour lunch break each day using up another 46 days leaving only 22 days to work. You normally spend 2 days on sick leave leaving 20 days. There are 5 holidays each year, so now you are down to 15 days left to work. You get 14 days vacation each year which leaves 1 day to work. And, now you want that one too! Are you crazy!

I hope you got a little giggle at that one. We all know the math doesn’t work! If it does, I sure feel tired for having worked just one day a year! I think many of us feel as over-worked in our Christian life as we do in our secular life. Paul has some advice in our reading today for all of us as he urges us to “press on.” Let me list them as I see them practically:

 Once a week, commit yourself to do something you don’t want to do. It’s good for your discipline and good for you character. Never trade your character for a moment of fleeting happiness. Real joy comes through the discipline of life.
 Pay attention to the little things. In the end they become the big things. The smile you share with those around you even when you don’t feel like smiling can be one of those things.
 Give yourself something that will outlast yourself. Invest in something eternal. For me this is one of the reasons I’m the twins assistant soccer coach. Regardless of how tough it might be with schedules and such, it may become something they never forget. And, it could be my only chance to do it.
 Force yourself to ask the question, “What’s in me for it?” Resist asking yourself, “What’s in it for me?”
 Resist believing that the best things in life are things.

None of us can take a day off from following Christ. Press on t the mark of His high calling!