I'm too tired

The phone rang just as I was settling down for the cold wintry evening.  The voice on the other end expressed a need, one that could not wait. Could I just say no? Would I overcome my weariness and go?  God does not always schedule opportunities for doing His work within our work schedule or when we find it convenient. 

Jesus’ disciples had just returned from a missions trip. Mark says that "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (Mark 6:12-13, NIV)  It is not a stretch to imagine that they were both pumped up with excitement and exhausted by their work. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." (Mark 6:30-32, NIV)  It looks like they are going to have time to regroup, to debrief. Every wise Christian will step back regularly for renewal.

On the way to the ‘solitary place,’ they anticipated having Jesus’ attention.  When they arrived, they found that word got out they were coming.  A huge crowd waited. Jesus’ love, His sense of the peoples’ deep spiritual need; “they were like sheep without a shepherd,” caused Him to spend the day teaching them.  As evening approached the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a remote place and it’s already very late. Send the people away." (Mark 6:35-36, NIV)  They were tired, done for the day. That’s reasonable, isn’t it?  But. . .

Jesus has another plan that none of them saw coming. He says, “Feed them!”  There were 5000 men, plus women and children, there.  After arguing with Him about the lack of resources, the cost of such an effort, they took on the challenge.  That evening, they participated in an amazing miracle, one that revealed who Jesus was and is – God in flesh, the Bread of Life. Five loaves of bread and two fish multiplied in their hands and when supper was over everybody was satisfied. Just to make the point of His sufficiency, Jesus let them see 12 baskets of left-overs gathered!

If God, the Holy Spirit, asks us to step up when we think it’s time to lie down, we can anticipate that He will provide the energy and resources needed to finish the work. The point is not to be driven by need. That will surely cause us to burn out.  Nor can we simply say, “I’m too tired,” and ignore inconvenient requests.  The saying is true:  “Where God guides, He provides.”  

Will you and I discover the joy being part of His plan by responding with ready obedience?  And, by the way, on that wintry evening, I did get up and go. God, the Spirit, created an opportunity to do His work in a way that proved rewarding and fulfilling and my weariness was forgotten in that moment.

Here is a word from the Word.  May it describe our attitude toward our Lord.

"I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.
Like servants, alert to their master’s commands,
like a maiden attending her lady,
We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath,
awaiting your word of mercy.
Mercy, God, mercy!"

(Psalm 123:1-3, The Message)

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He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit!

His grace has no measure!

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance.

When our strength has failed

‘Ere the day is half done.

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources.

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Annie Johnson Flint | Hubert Mitchell

© Words: Public Domain

You lead, Lord

The old Sinatra anthem, “I did it my way,” is as American as apple pie.  Woven into our national legends are themes that encourage self-reliance and independence. First graders aspire to be the line leader for the day. Awards go to those who take charge and shake things up. But in all  this emphasis on being at the top we potentially rob ourselves of peace and even effectiveness in life.  There is a place for followership, too. 

Jesus invites us to find rest in Him and note how. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, NIV) The yoke is

a “device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.” (dictionary.com)  It takes away the freedom for that animal to wander off to an inviting tuft of grass or pool of water.  Yes, the yoke was and is a symbol of oppression and abuse.  So take careful note that Jesus does not say He will slap a yoke on us! He encourages us to put on the yoke that ties us to Him. It is a voluntary submission.

Submission! It’s a despised word for many.  However, the Christian who desires true rest, who would live in the most profound contentment, will choice to say, “You lead, Lord.” He will give himself to the yoke of Christ Jesus.  The Lord promises that He won’t jerk us around either. He is gentle!  There is a quality of Christian life that is only discovered when we stop trying to be the one in charge.  Submission is not the same thing as resignation.  Many encounter disappoint and/or defeat and just give up.  There is no joy, no rest in that place.  Who wants to be beaten down?

Followership is difficult because it involves death to Self. Be encouraged that even Jesus wrestled with embracing the purposes of His Father.  In the Garden as He faced the Cross, becoming sin for us, going through the agony of crucifixion, His intense emotions made Him sweat blood, literally!  He cried out for another way, but ultimately, He stepped into the yoke and let the Father lead.  “Jerry, that’s not a great illustration for me,” you may be saying. “I don’t want to die.”   But, we must. Like Jesus, our exaltation, our greatest glory, is not found in forcing our way on the world, but in taking up our cross and letting Him lead.

Are you discontent?  Is your life marked by restlessness, complaint, striving, and competition?  The wisdom of the world will tell you to take charge, to reshape your situation to make things more favorable to yourself. The myth of leadership is that it provides greater freedom.  True leaders are servants and the greater their position of leadership, the more people they serve!  Real rest, Jesus says, is found when we take His yoke, when we step into line with Him, letting Him lead.

Think long and hard about this word from the Word. “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 5:7-10, NLT)   Here’s the focus phrase - Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience.  Will we choose that way that for ourselves?

Yoke. Rest. Serve. Peace. God’s Promise. Rich Provisions.

______

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, perfect delight!

Visions of rapture now burst at my sight.

Angels descending, bring from above,

Echoes of mercy whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest!

I in my Savior am happy and blest.

Watching and waiting, looking above.

Filled with His goodness lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long!

Fanny Jane Crosby | Phoebe Palmer Knapp

© Words: Public Domain

Burnt out?

A catch phrase that I heard often as a young preacher was 'I'd rather burn out for God than rust out.'  The intent was laudable, urging diligence in a cause of paramount importance. Souls needed to be rescued. Suffering people needed healing. Children had to be taught, disciples made. I internalized that idea without much critical thought.  However, the truth is that the choice between 'burnout' and 'rust out' is a false one.  

 

God orders our live with cycles of work and rest. He teaches us from His own creative work. We learn that "on the seventh day he rested from all his work." (Genesis 2:2).  Even the Almighty took time to rest!

What does burnout look like?  It shows in resentment, in cynicism, in feelings of helplessness. Burnt out people are overwhelmed by life's responsibilities. Everybody has days when multiple demands overload their schedule, when come to the end of day exhausted. Burnout is different!  A person who is suffering this way starts the day exhausted. While he may drive himself to work, his productivity is diminished, motivation derived from passion lost to duty.

Christians will almost certainly suffer from 'burnout' when they adopt a standard of perfection!  If he feels that he can never 'be enough'  he is at high risk. The call of Christ to a holy life of devotion is a worthy one and, to borrow Oswald Chamber's memorable phrase, requires 'my utmost for His highest.'  

However, experiencing Christ is never just about things we do.  If the focus of our faith devolves to counting hours spent in prayer, chapters read in our Bible, Sundays spent in church, or time invested in ministry work - burnout is nearly inevitable. We will become one of those drudges who occupy church pews, joyless, hanging on to God knows what, to stay out of Hell.  Christians must pray, take in Scripture truth, worship, and serve. These things prove nothing about worth or even devotion.  They are a means not an end. Jesus wants us to know Him even as we serve Him.

God calls us out of isolation and into His Church, into loving relationships. Why? Because deep, intimate, supportive friends are a primary defense against burnout! Spend a couple of hours at a table with people who know you, who listen to your stories, who make you laugh, and you will feel renewed. Share a passion for some project with 3 or 4 other like-minded Christians and you will multiply your effectiveness and find joy in the journey! 

Practice God's own 'Sabbath' principle faithfully. (Careful, we are incurably religious and we can turn even this gift into a rule and a curse.)  Genesis says,"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." (Genesis 1:31 -2:3, NIV)  

Reflect! See what's done.  
Rest! Break the drive of endless demands and rest.  Christians never stop'being' but they must take a break from 'doing.'

In the interest of authenticity, I must confess that I have far too often allowed myself to be driven by the work of ministry. (Thank you for praying for me to be wiser.) Only recently have I started to grasp the very real danger of hurting the very people I serve if I burn out.  

Let's learn how to pursue Him with passionate diligence, renewed by days of rest, reflecting on the journey with joy.  Jesus calls us to 'life to the full,' promises us joy.  Meditate on this word from the Word and see what the Spirit is saying to you today. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)  Eugene Peterson offers this commentary on that passage - "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

Now that sounds like a life I want to live. How about you?

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Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

You call me out upon the waters,

The great unknown where feet may fail.

And there I find You in the mystery,

In oceans deep my faith will stand.

And I will call upon Your name,

And keep my eyes above the waves,

When oceans rise.

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

For I am Yours and You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters,

Your sov'reign hand will be my guide.

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me,

You've never failed and You won't start now.

Oh and You are mine!

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour.

I will call upon Your name,

Keep my eyes above the waves.

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

I am Yours and You are mine.

Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm

© 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Listen to the song

Wealth-building

Sunday was a day full of activities- prayer, preaching, people, and yes, problems!  In the afternoon, I found out that an entry porch at one of our church's buildings had collapsed when heavy snow pulled it down.  Parking lots were icy despite $’s (lots) spent to clear them.  
 Despite all these things, as my day came to close about 8 PM, while I was driving to my home, I thought about the dozens of interactions with others that brought joy. I reviewed the list of faithful servants who are committed to the work of God’s kingdom. In that moment, an old song echoed through my mind.  “How rich I am since Jesus came my way, redeemed my soul and turned my night to day. How very rich I am!”  A summary of my financial net worth wouldn't qualify me as a wealthy man. But I am rich!

God has allowed me to know His grace, repeatedly, during my life.  He has used me, a flawed man, to pour His grace into the lives of others, often through my scars, marks left where He has healed me. He blesses me to love and be loved by many - in my family, in the church I serve, and in this world. Yes, I am a rich man! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV) I am a son of God and my Father has written me into His will, making me an heir of incredible wealth. I exult in this great wealth. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)

I encourage you to include ALL of your wealth when you're doing an inventory of life.  My bank accounts are not the sum of my wealth. Only when I look count my blessings do I see my true wealth.  The invisible riches of my inheritance in Christ changes the bottom line on the balance sheet of life considerably.

What kind of wealth are you striving for? Where is your treasure?  Are you measuring your wealth by the amount of resources you are able to keep in store in a 401(k) or by the performance of your financial portfolio?  Or are you committing to building true wealth? There is nothing inherently wrong with material wealth, but the moment will come when the things of this world are left behind. Only the treasure stored in Heaven- through service, through generous giving, through loving others - will figure into the balance sheet then.  Be a real wealth-builder, as Jesus counsels. "Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33, NIV)

Here's a word from the Word to take along with you today. Think it over - maybe even jot it on a piece of paper - and let the Spirit guide you in applying it to your life -
"True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life." (Proverbs 22:4, NLT)
______________________________

How Rich Am I

How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow,
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!

Author: Peterson, John W.Copyright: 1956.
Renewed 1984 John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055