Paul's story makes it clear that sometimes being a disciple is dangerous. For us in America, we are in no danger of being persecuted in such a way. This is not true everywhere, of course, but it is our truth. However, being a disciple always means facing death. For us, it is not usually the death of our actual lives, but it is often a death to a way of life or to a mindset or behaviors.
Paul's obstacles were often people and their unbelief. This is true for us. How do we maintain our belief in the midst of doubt? And we must do more than maintain; we must find the strength and courage to act on our belief that Jesus' way of living is the Way. This is faith--acting on our belief.
Keeping the Sabbath is an important element of this. Keeping the Sabbath is a weekly reminder that God is in charge (see Psalm 104) and that God has already made a way for our salvation and our peace. Keeping the Sabbath means worship and sacraments and recharging the image of the divine within us by being infused with the Holy Spirit so we have enough in the tank to make it through to the next Sabbath.
"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." (Psalm 104:33)
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