“‘If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’ The mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:13-14). I remember the moment … as vividly as it breathed when I was five. I leaned over to my mother and asked her to read me the words that were beyond my articulation—three little words etched at the base of the stained-glass cross which adorned the front of our sanctuary.
“Come. Tarry. Go,” she replied. “It means you come, you stay awhile, and then you leave.”
I feel the warmth of her breath in this moment of recall. Those words and that cross have shadowed my steps ever since. I felt them profoundly today, as I participated in a doing I’ve been doing for my entire life. A doing that has carved me … etched me … filled me with the significance of my sacred worth. A doing that sometimes requires …
faith over feeling.
mind over matter.
willingness over weariness.
Today, my feet pilgrimed to God’s house for a Sabbath observance. Not because I felt like it; my feelings would have left me as I was—in bed and nursing a cough and sore throat that, perhaps, warranted my absence. No, this morning’s arrival at my church had nothing to do with my flesh and everything to do with my feet’s submission to a heart’s obedience.
Today, I walked to Jesus. Intentionally and dressed in my best simply because he is worthy. Any other half-hearted attempt at honoring him would be just that—half-hearted and less than and a whole lot like the world’s painting of a Sunday’s worth. A worth that levels toward self-soothing and doing as one pleases, rather than regarding the better necessary–that which leads a heart to worship.
And therein lies the seeding of my nearly four decades’ worth of faith.
What pleases me is doing what pleases God. And what pleases God is my honoring of him. My recognizing of his relevant and extravagant grace and how far it has traveled on my behalf. To a cross where he willingly came, sacrificially tarried, and resolutely departed once love’s redeeming work had walked its course.
His pause at Calvary means everything to me. The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I understand the depth of his gift. I didn’t understand it at five years old. I’m not sure I fully understand it now, but lingering in the shadow of the cross compels me to make the journey. Not because it needs my reverence, but rather because I need its reminder.
Thus, I come to the cross on Sundays. I tarry beneath its lavish grace that allows me my remembrance and that fuels my going forth in the week that lies ahead.
It’s not overly profound, and to some, it might seem rather perfunctory. Rather routine and packed with obligation, but when I consider what’s been wrought on my behalf, how foolish would I be to act to the contrary? To choose my pleasing over God’s pleasure? To walk as if my honor is worthy of more homage than his?
Doing life with Jesus has always been my privilege. It’s been yours too, but all too often, our gratitude walks in stark contrast to grace’s dispensation. Instead of finding our footing at Christ’s feet, we allow our flesh the wisdom to walk its intelligence. The problem with fleshly “wisdom” is that is will always choose self over the sacred—my pleasing over God’s.
And when a Sabbath day begins to look like every other day, when we refuse to give a moment’s tarry to the One who tarried long and deliberate in our stead, then we have not only forsaken our first love, but we have robbed ourselves of the rightful inheritance that is ours as children of the living God.
Jesus Christ.
He is our lasting and very great reward (Genesis 15:1). Spending time with him in intentional and deliberate worship is never wasted. It’s life-giving and heart-changing and moves our faith into a deeper place of obedience and understanding. Coming to the cross and tarrying with our Father in his truth, enables our go—our moving on and our moving out to spread the witness of his love. Without such pause, our lives breathe void of the power that comes from contemplated remembrance.
Today I remembered. I walked to God’s house, alongside my family, and took time to hear my mother’s words ringing in my ears even as they did in my long ago and far away. They still sing true. They still whisper fresh. They still and will forever be the remembrance of grace that shadows my steps until I reach the throne of heaven and sit at my Father’s feet for always.
Come. Tarry. Go.
A worthy obedience. A worthy Reward. Thus I pray…
Thank you, Father, for a Sabbath’s pause that allows me your gracious remembrance. Forgive me when I deem “my pleasing” as more substantial than yours. Yours fuels my forever with the only truth that seeds everlasting. May my coming and my tarrying always reflect the deep grace that I have known, and may my going always reflect my attending therein. Thank you for the cross, for love’s redeeming work, and for your Son’s obedience to both. And thank you for parents who took me to church, who filled my heart with the witness of your love, and who spoke the truth of a stained glass cross with every stepped submission of their journey. You graced me much when you gave me their arms. Amen.
Copyright © November 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved
Elaine, I “come” to your blog; I “tarry” with a worthwhile reading; I “go” away refreshed, encouraged and changed.
The way your paralleled that lesson with Christ willingly coming, sacrificially tarrying then resolutely departing – it just spoke so deeply to me.
Thanks for being submissive to a heart’s obedience, not only in your attendance at church today, but in attending to your writing here. I am always blessed.
Love ya,
Joy
This was lovely.
The world can’t comprehend a desire that goes deeper than the flesh. It makes no sense to the world to say, “Doing what pleases God pleases me…even if it’s not what I feel like doing.”
It’s a beautiful privilege to have a heart awakened to deeper pleasures than our flesh can perceive. In many ways I’m still a babe in that walk, still just toddling along. But words like yours provide a steadying grip. Thank you.
Elaine, your words just now have prompted me to forego the laundry a bit longer. I’m going to shut down the computer and get out the Word again just now while the girls are asleep.
It is a comfort to know that the greatest satisfaction in life comes not in what I can do to make myself happy, but in the time I spend tarrying at His feet, listening to His voice. Therein lies real fulfillment.
What appropriate words!! You bless me!! Our pastor preached on much the same thing—worship and how we make it all about us rather than all about Him. It was an awesome sermon. In case you want to hear it you can find it at: http://www.fbcvision.com. It is entitled Worship Observed!
Leah
I rush to start my day and then I come here and your words cause me to stop and think and tarry on my Savior the way I should. I think this is one of my favorite pieces I’ve read from you.
Come. Tarry. Go.
You have given me much to ponder, Elaine.
God bless you, friend!
Big hugs,
Amy:)
I’ve been pondering of late the fact that things have really changed in the manner in which we approach our Sunday services at church. I attend a non-denominational “seeker-friendly” church, which I love. But it’s been resonating with me lately that, in our attempt to bring people in, we have “dumbed-down” our reverence. We seem to have made it more about pleasing people than pleasing God.
I mean no disrespect for my church, or others like it; they are doing a great work in our community and reaching a LOT of people. It’s a fine line, I know. But the fact remains that God is God. His pleasure is far above mine, and in serving at the pleasure of the King, I am the one who is ultimately served.
And therein lies the mystery of the Sabbath. If I “come” in obedience, and “tarry” in reverence and worship, I “go” out renewed.
Good Stuff.
“The problem with fleshly “wisdom” is that is will always choose self over the sacred—my pleasing over God’s.” Amen to this!
Yesterday I overslept and could easily have skipped Sunday worship. But I couldn’t. As you so eloquently wrote, this is where we must go to be re-fueled, to praise and to try to comprehend, once again, the amazing gift of grace that Jesus has given.
I had never heard, “Come, Tarry, Go” but what wisdom is contained in three simple words. Although I suppose their real significance is not in the actual words but in who speaks them to us.
Blessings to you,
Kelli
Beautiful!
Lots to be thankful for, and I’ve never seen the come, tarry, go.
Three words that I will mull over much today.
Love,
Yolanda
There’s just something about communal worship that sweeps me into His presence. It’s where His glory dwells, and it’s where my own heart finds such sure-footing, if not humbled awe.
My trouble is always in the tarrying … I long to remain there, never wanting to go. But my pastor reminds me that we are God’s plan A. And since He has no Plan B it is imperative that we do go. So “go” I go.
Beautiful post, Elaine.
Kathleen
Elaine, I love the way you applied the “come, tarry, go” message not only to the cross but to our need for regular worship in God’s house, too. Thanks for sharing those three special words.
Those three small words carry so much weight! I can use them as I go to my quiet time….Come – Tarry – Go. So many times I don’t have a lot of problems with coming or even tarrying but then when it comes time to go and do the Father’s business I am sometimes lazy! Father forgive me!
Thanks Elaine!
Love ya,
Marilyn
what a great meditation. thank you.
Growing up we were in church each time the door opened….there was never a question.
And while I was ministering…there was no question where I would be on Sunday morning.
Now is the test….do I go and tarry even when there is no one to check up on me if I don’t?
We are dealing with this now…and for the most part…we are going and tarrying. I miss Him when we don’t. And I miss out on getting to know this new section of the body.
There is such importance and beauty in remembering!
As always,I have been convicted. Changes in our church has left me a little “dissatisfied” with our worship at church. I keep repeating to myself that it’s about what we bring to God during this time, not about the type of music and such but my heart has not been pure. Thank you for sharing this. Obviously God and I have some talking to do about my heart this past few Sundays.
That cross is breath-taking.
In His Graces~Pamela
How I love the simple message of those three words! The simplicity belies the depth therein. Come, Tarry, Go. Beautiful, Elaine!
Just to let you know, I received my prize! The book arrived a couple days ago and I can’t be more excited to dig in. Soon. After I finish several other reads…
Sorry to hear of your sore throat. I hope such did not put a damper on your gratitude feast last week!
Happy Advent, Dear friend.
Well, sister, my conscience has been pricked! I have to confess that there are some days that I don’t “tarry.” Some days I reach for “just a quick fix of Jesus.” But, oh, the blessings that slip through my grasp…
I repent, and purpose in my heart to “Come, tarry, go.”
Thank you for this post. :o)
P.S. Thanks so much for the book. I haven’t begun to read it yet, as I have been taking care of Bill, but I look forward to reading it soon! What a blessing. :o)
Hi Elaine, I have stumbled accross you blog and what a wonderful place it it! what an insightful story! thank you! sarah
Awesome….Wow!!! Thank you!
wow, that was a beautiful parallel! I really need to hear that! Thanks for writing what God lays on your heart!
Beautifully poignant and excellent reminder of what Sabbath should be. Thank you, so much, for the reminder (by the way, I got “Epic” in the mail yesterday. Thank you so much!)
Like Joy, your blog is a place I come, I tarry and then I go, all the while feeling as though I’ve worshipped, and always leaving changed.
Your obedience is a blessing and challenge to my ever-human heart.
Blessings,
Tracy
I anticipate coming to His feet!
I love to tarry there!
It’s the going that makes me sigh …
but go we must, at least until He comes for His bride.
Hope you’re feeling better, my friend!
I echo Joy’s words…and thank you for opening this ‘door’ to us and allowing us to peek into the treasures that His heart holds…
I remember so well visiting an old cathedral in London, England. It’s architecture held depth of history that our American modern buildings lack. In the silence, in the benches, in the stained glass…there is a sense of His holiness, His Presence..that immediately draws you in..invites contemplation…or as you penned, invites you to tarry a while..
Love you! Been preoccupied for a while…blessings to you..hope all is well…
Come~Tarry~Go…
I just did, and oh how blessed I am.
Thanks once again for sharing another awesome memory and your life passion.
Blessings to you my sweet friend♥
Thanks so much for your kind sorks…sorks? I meant to type “words”!!!! Thank you so much for your kind words. I guess great minds think alike. We ordered take out that very night! lol
I appreciate your continued prayers. The MRI results were quite disheartening. Bill will see a neurosurgeon tomorrow.
Blessings…
A doing that sometimes requires …
faith over feeling.
mind over matter.
willingness over weariness.
Wowzer, Amen. Anointed pen. I worshipped.
Greetings to you, Mrs. Elaine, I liked this post, “come, tarry, go” reminds me of what Paul said about fighting the good fight, and then his time for going free was at hand, his life being poured out as a drink offering:) I hope your Thanksgiving was the best!
katiegfromtennessee
Yes, sister! Let the Sabbath never ever become just another day… In setting it aside as sacred we show that we have faith in our Father for our every day.