Entering Into Our Rest
Some Christians feel selfish every time they do something for themselves. But feeling selfish does not mean that we are actually being selfish. Feelings are not facts. We can learn to love ourselves as we love others. There is a balance that God is able to bring in our care of others and care of self. It is not selfish to take care of ourselves and our own needs. In our busy lives, to have time to literally rest, to refresh and to renew is critical. Jesus did this, particularly after significant times of ministering to the multitudes.
We are His workmanship and He is teaching us about resting in Him. But for some busy and burdened Christians, what they, themselves, need is a brand new question to consider. Some of us can tell you the needs of everyone around us but draw a blank when asked what we need. We become so busy helping and serving others, addressing their needs and giving to others, that we neglect to receive for ourselves. Giving and receiving is best in balance over time.
We are to give freely, but we also can learn the receiving part when our giving is out of balance.
“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8 Berean
It pleases the Lord when we give freely, without expectation of reward from others. But if we begin to question and become upset because others don’t seem to give back the way we have given to them, we’re focused on what we’re not getting in return, rather than motivated by pleasing the Lord. This heart condition leads to resentment. We always receive from God Who blesses and ever rewards us for all we do in His name. His nature of love makes no demands. We must give ourselves the same grace and love that God gives us and we display towards others.
Note that we are to be loving others as we love ourselves. Yet, human beings can be very harsh on themselves, with a severe inner critic that is not God’s voice within. We talk to ourselves in ways we would not dream of doing with others! All the fruit of the spirit is good for ourselves as well as others. God knows everything that is required of us. He is able to prioritize what we need to do each day. He also teaches us what we need to stop doing because there’s no benefit–it’s not expedient for us to do those things.
His word does this work within us:
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 Berean
God does this paring down, this refining work we need within each heart that determines to serve Him, in order to enter into His rest. Here’s the thing: God loves us. He is most fond of us and made us for relationships, for companionship. Our heavenly Father wants us to enjoy the life He’s given us. We are to “enjoy our allotment” in His kingdom as He conquers all things within us. Does it show forth the glory of God when we are all bent down with burdens and miserable in our walk with Him? Or when we are going along well, only to run into another believer who is burdened down and heavy laden, and we take it all on?
It’s not good if, when we part, others are much lighter but we are now burdened down and heavy laden! We are to assist others with their issues in response to the guidance of the spirit, without being caught in a snare ourselves. This is not just vulnerability to the same issues, it also is vulnerability to take on and continue with the other’s burdens that they should be taking to the Lord themselves.
There’s a great release when God opens our eyes to show how we are taking on burdens that do not belong to us! Some burdens cannot be ours even though these are great needs in the world around us. Many of God’s burdens, particularly for intercessors, are only for a season, a period of time, as led by the holy spirit. God shows when either the need of the other is met or we are released from interceding on their behalf.
To mature in our walk with the Lord, we all must ultimately face dealing with Him ourselves. It is our responsibility, not another’s. We do not want to get in the way of God’s dealings with another growing believer. We can walk alongside others, interceding for their needs, allowing the Lord to teach us how to keep the burden in the Lord’s hands, not on ourselves. Others’ needs then go through us to the Christ within.
One of my favorite songs is this Catholic hymn, The Servant Song, taken from Jesus’ words in Matthew (above). Originally the first line was “Brother, let me be your servant,” sometimes alternated with “Sister, let me be your servant.” Either way, these lyrics eloquently summarize the balance needed as we walk with each other in the Lord:
The Servant Song
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav'lers on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow ‘til we've seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
(Richard Gillard, 1977)
Do you hear the balance, see the mutual exchange here? When God deals with us about our balance of giving and receiving, He includes all of the good things provided for our enjoyment. Multitudes of scriptures encourage us to be joyful, providing keys to true happiness and blessings. Earthly parents love to see their children enjoying things, from a baby’s delighted giggles to their adult child’s enjoying their “pursuit of happiness” with pure joy.
How much more so our Lord delights in us, His children, enjoying the life He is providing for us and His amazing creation all around. God surely does not want a bunch of “sad sack” Christians grimly going about life, oppressed with labor and fear. He lightens our load when we let Him. Jesus enjoyed the life and the people around Him, and yet He had more burdens than we can ever imagine. These He consistently took to His Father, as we need to do.
Everyone requires a balance of rest and relaxation in between our busy, more demanding and potentially stressful times—even our Lord did during His earthly ministry. We need to reserve some time for ourselves, not selfishly but out of necessary. When we do not, our bodies often will do it for us, becoming unable to function through fatigue or illness. When we love the Lord, our alone times of refreshing are with Him, taking times of communion and conversation in His presence. Jesus said:
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’
‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NIV
Without loving the Lord wholly, we cannot fulfil the second commandment Jesus told them: to love our neighbor as ourselves. Most of us hear that first part, about loving our neighbor, but the Lord is saying to love ourselves as a balance for love of others. We are to treat others with compassion and respect while realizing that we, too, need that sort of attitude toward ourselves within our own hearts.
When no one else in our lives is providing that, God is always doing so. Sometimes the Lord must teach us how to be merciful with ourselves, how to relax and just be. We may continue to think we are honoring God in all we do—until we break down from the imbalance and get worn out. Paul encourages care of our Christian brothers and sisters while cautioning:
“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not become weary. then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
Good works are important, of course, but they need to flow from the leading of God rather than our own zeal. Those “have tos” that we take on may not be what God is leading us to do. Instead, they may be based on the fear of man, including our own inner critic. Teens are not the only ones who are vulnerable to peer pressure! There is considerable pressure from Christian peers who want us to be as busy as they are, particularly in upholding their works.
When God draws us into a time of solitude and outer inactivity, our Christian brothers and sisters sometimes start thinking we are backslid! This just exposes how little the Rest of God is understood. Yes, there are ups and downs in life. Wise believers sit with God, allowing Him to examine our heart motives as we review our commitments. There are times of rest, times of being drawn away with God alone.
Consider all of the balance of the seasons and times revealed in Ecclesiastes:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV
We see this ebb and flow, life’s balance of God’s life all around us. The seasons change in God just as they do in the natural world. Only the holy spirit within us can reveal the seasons of our lives and what He would have us occupying ourselves with as we continue to walk in Him.
The Apostle Paul lived a full and busy life, led by God to accomplish much for God’s kingdom. Then his season of active ministry ended. For the last two years of his life, he was imprisoned in Rome. What a change in his walk with God! He could have railed against God that he could no longer go to the churches and minister in person. We know he loved the brethren and more than once mentions his longing to see the people of the churches he nurtured.
Paul could have complained that he was isolated, stuck in jail where he could not do for others as in the past. When his in-person external ministry came to an end, there is no evidence that he had such an attitude of heart. He certainly did not write about any such struggle. What Paul wrote in the two years he was imprisoned has marvelously lasted through the ages, gifting the rest of us his highest and greatest ministry. This is surely far beyond what Paul may have imagined when he was in prison where his ministry ws primarily in writing to the saints.
Earlier, when ministering to the Corinthians about the sins of the body, particularly sexual immorality. Paul speaks of balance in this way:
“ All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 NASB
Paul is saying he will not be dominated or compelled by anything –though lawful or acceptable – except for the Lord compelling him. He is not dominated by others’ demands for his life, his work, and his ministry. He is not bound by the Jewish laws concerning food or drink. He then continues to name sins of the flesh stemming from wrongful desires. There is nothing inherently wrong with food or drink or sex or entertainment or our myriad present life blessings and advantages. God created many things to be enjoyed. But we, like Paul, should refuse to be under the authority of, out of balance with, any of these things.
Jesus was born of Mary into a human body that got weary. All the needs around Him drew consistently upon His compassion and tender mercies. Yet we have no example of the Lord using any means other than time alone with His Father to manage His burdens. He never asked His disciples to pray for Him because He was tired, sick, or, as we would say, burned out. His human body did get fatigued from His busy ministry and the opposition he faced, but He went to the Father, not to activities. He also drew His closest followers away with Him to special times where He taught and fellowshipped just with them.
When we are entering into His rest, God reveals all those things we have run to in order to distract us from our stressors, to attempt to find rest when we are distressed and lacking in peace. Those of us in the Western world have an abundance of choices for enjoyment and distraction. But when other people and activities become our primary source, those things become more important than God and His provision for peace and rest to our souls. Most of the world now has technology to advance their life and connection, but these too can be a snare.
To what do we run to find rest? If it is other people or activities instead of God, or if we have to have everything for our loved ones in place before we can relax, we are falling short of God’s promise of rest in Him. When do we put our devices down and just be? We must examine anything that grows in significance, in time, thought, and energy, to begin dominating our time and focus instead of the Lord. Even when others we love take His place in our hearts, it is shown in what we habitually do.
It’s not that we must stop all such things or connections, but that we need to be led by the spirit in all. Many of these things are deceptive because they are not “bad” things, just out of balance and used for the wrong purpose. It can even be that we are focusing on others’ needs and others’ problems as a way to avoid our own. More than one of God’s servants called to minister to others is avoiding problems and issues in their own lives while devotedly ministering to others in their care.
Years ago, the Lord gave me a dream. I was standing next to a fence separating two fields with. flowers and weeds. I had my back to the field I was standing in while leaning over the fence, vigorously pulling weeds from the other field. Well. You do not have to be a prophet to understand that message! I was focusing on the weeds in another’s field while ignoring my own. God always has ways to reveal the motives of our hearts!
We need not continue with people or activities not motivated by Him. Sometimes He even takes the others who are draining our time and energy from our lives, even our fellowships, though they may think it was their decision. Thankfully God takes us a step at a time, refining by the sharp sword of the word. He reveals by His spirit each person or thing that will rob us of God’s best.
It’s not sinful to have favorite hobbies like gardening, reading, watching shows or sports we love, participating in our child’s activities, enjoying concerts and other entertainment. Some people are like this, too—we can always count on them to distract us from ourselves.They bring joy and pleasure just being around them—they are a blessing! Despite all our issues, this is an amazing world God has created for us to dwell within.
What we are dealing with here is what God reveals in our hearts. It’s an internal issue. God does all things purposefully. It is quite significant that Jesus starts the Greatest Commandment with “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Are we dominated by, under the control of, or driven by anything other than the Lord? Are any activities or people a substitute for God dealing with our fears and anxieties? God shows us so He can change us. Jesus dealt with the motives of our hearts in what we do:
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you…
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first the kingdom of Godg and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:1-4;31-34 Berean
Some of us just don’t know how to relax and must be taught. My wonderful husband told me to relax so often that when our son was only three years old, he would tell me “Just rewax [relax}, Mom!” So, tell me to do something and I’m on it but how do you do relax? It is easy to work too much when you love the work God has given to you. We can justify all the hours because, after all, it’s our calling. It is expedient to learn to be more watchful about all those good things that hinder entering into His rest.
Only He knows the progress made within. We are His workmanship, not our own.
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Ephesians 2:8-10 Berean
As God continues to refine us, we realize that some things we are doing, though harmless or even good things, are out of control. We humans are so vulnerable to pleasures that are initially acceptable but later begin to dominate us. That is what addiction is–a way to feel good and escape pain and distress. Many of us are vulnerable, over time, to get out of balance, becoming driven to overindulge in any good thing, including working for our living, exercising our bodies, being a loving parent and spouse, seeking external entertainment and escape, enjoying food and even fellowship to excess.
What do we live for? Is it God or is it something or someone else? All are gifts from God, to be sure. But many wonderful and lawful things still work death in us when they begin to control or dominate how we live. They become idols just as much as the golden calf of the Israelites. God can show each of us what is robbing us of the rest and peace we need. We learn to notice what brings peace or lack of it.
What we see, watch, read about, and listen to—all that we take in and focus upon—will either nourish us or cost us, depending on what God knows is best for our individual needs. Our creator made us, and we are not all the same. What brings peace to one may be the very thing that adds to another’s stress.
Here’s an example of a good thing that can dominate us that most of us can relate to. If you use a smartphone, lay it down for a day. Try taking a smartphone vacation! It’s a good way to see how addictive that piece of wonderful equipment can be. How many of us reach for our smartphones upon waking, check our phones all day, and look at it as the last thing before we sleep? While there are multiple benefits to having these devices, our work does not end if we taken them on vacation to stay in touch with work. Sadly, some positions and some businesses even require it.
Think about when electric power is lost in our Western world. Nearly everything we might think of to pass the time we are unable to do. We can’t even charge our smartphones! All around the world, smartphones have become vital for communication. They broaden our world, just as those of us who remember when TV’s first came into our households. But like many families, we begin to gather around the TV entertainment more than gathering with each other! Our devices are a wonderful gift when we need to stay in contact with family, friends, and work. They become vital in emergencies.
What a tool to keep track of our children, to make sure our loved ones who are traveling are safe on the road, to quickly communicate requests or needs, and—for those of us who are geographically challenged—to get us where we are going! In third-world countries without the infrastructure we have, many have smartphones to stay in touch. Smartphones all over are even recording wrongful acts to expose and correct, bringing about crucial changes that show evil in action and even result in a revolution of government.
I’m surely not saying smartphones are bad, except for unmonitored use by children who put themselves in danger because of the access others have to them. Who do you think gave individuals the ability to create such things? God wants us to be free as we enjoy His kingdom within. So, God has to deal with some of us to periodically detach from devices, to lay them down on occasion.
Maybe we need to learn that the world can proceed without us being in touch for a period of time. God may lead us to avoid some “good things” that are okay for others but put us at risk of imbalance. What starts as an enjoyable activity begins to consume us. Games and entertainment are a great way to distract ourselves and, for us seniors, keep our brains active and alert. Yet it is easy to get “hooked”, where the activity is controlling us to an unhealthy degree.
Times of restoration are required for the fullness of life God wants us to have. God knows our frame and our individual weaknesses. He sees in our hearts where we lose our “all things in moderation” commitment to Him. Then we realize we are in the territory that Paul said not to allow. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. God strengthens us as we continue to refuse to be under the control of anything external.
We, the people of God are to be only under subjection to the Lord. When God shows us something needs to stop or change, we are able to do it.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency;
I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] “Philippians 4:13 Amplified
We need not make changes as a law for others to follow, nor even stop some things permanently. . Some Christians enjoy social media while others stay away or limit involvement as it is neither expedient nor profitable for them. God knows when hobbies or habits lead to too much unproductive time being spent. He also knows the error comes in how we use these things in our lives rather than in those things themselves. We must stay alert to be led by His spirit. When something that began as a pleasurable way of passing time and connecting with others starts to dominate the center of our being, God is no longer in it.
The Lord is to be at the center of our being. We are His dwelling place and He is a jealous God.We may have seasons where God leaves certain areas alone until He decides it is time. It’s step-by-step as He exposes the layers of fleshly activities robbing us of His peace and His life. After years of walking with the Lord, we become more and more aware of all the areas that draw us away from Him.
Sometimes we need deep healing to mend the wounds, the past trauma that keeps us falling into the same old temptations. We sit at the feet of the Lord and learn moderation in the life He has given each of us.
When we are at His feet, learning or resting, others who are busy resent it! They even accuse us of not being loving or not serving God. We may be judged for our outward inactivity and considered selfish and uncaring. After all, we are no longer helping them carry their heavy loads! Further, there are Christians who put off all of this inner change and the potential to be truly led by His spirit far into the future, reserving it for the afterlife.
They preach that we cannot enter into God’s rest until we die and are in heaven. Search the scriptures, however, and you will see it does not say so.
“Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they [the Israelites] heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. Now we who have believed enter that rest…
there remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-11 NASB
The writer of Hebrews says now, in that day, it was disobedient to refuse to enter into His rest. It was available to them as they have faith in Jesus Christ. We are not told we have to physically die before entering into His rest. He is able to grant the peace that passes understanding while we remain on this earth. Isn’t it on this earth that we most need His rest? His rest is much spoken of in the Word, but it seems there are many more sermons about what we should and not do to fulfill the law. Rest is not something we can do, it is something God grants to us because of our faith.
We need to know more about “making every effort” to enter into His rest. This is an attitude of our heart that only our Lord and Savior can work within us. The Lord has led many of us to stop former activities, including fellowship, doing good works, leading others to Christ, visibly helping the poor, or working for Christian causes like pro-life. It does not mean we do not share these values and beliefs, only that God is not leading us to make any of these activities our focus. Jesus was not a “one issue “ God and neither are we to be unless God makes it our passion and cause.
God is in charge of our calling and we must fulfill it, but it is not God when we insist on others sharing our same passion for that issue or judge them as lacking when they do not. We should not insist that all other Christians prioritize what we do. Others may be called to do many specific things that God has not laid upon our hearts. It is not our calling. Even our specific individual calling, when centered around one issue, should never come before our relationships with God Himself.
We must heed the specific call of the spirit, leaving the Tree of Good and Evil to eat of the Tree of Life. While we are at rest, God is very active within us. He has our undivided attention when we are drawn to the wilderness, alone with God. What God is accomplishing within us isn’t seen by others. We ourselves may not see or understand it. The fruit of that time with only God, no distractions, later becomes evident, visible in our lives as righteousness. Much spiritual growth and maturity occur when God seemingly is doing nothing in and through us.
“The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?
But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 Berean
The mind of Christ is within us—we have it. His mind is nurtured and fed by God within as we walk with the Lord. Those of us with busy, unruly minds are being taught of the spirit to allow the mind of Christ dwelling within us to dominate us. These are the most precious times with our Lord. We learn to please God and not have fear of man in whatever He leads us to do.
But even pleasing God is not a restful pursuit if we are fear-based rather than faith-based. We are to “fear.” that is “be in awe or reverence” God, which is in great contrast to the fear of punishment if we do not. Often there’s a deep-down fear of God’s judgment, of not being good enough for Him if we don’t do all we have been taught to do. This does not bring God’s rest—how can it?
“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!
For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].” 1 John 4:18 Amplified
Fear and faith do not go well together, but we can state “what times I am afraid, I will trust the Lord.” God teaches us what pleases Him most as we learn to rest in Him. How He loves the praises of His people as He is teaching us His ways! There’s an old chorus we sing that expresses the desires of our heart at times like this: “Teach me, Oh, Lord, how to be pleasing. Teach me, Oh Lord, how to please you. In everything I say, in everything I do…”
Meetings and quiet time with God and service to others are not laws we must meet to qualify in God’s eyes. Freely we have received and freely we give, led by His spirit rather than rules and regulations. Fellowship with other Christians is precious and can be mighty refreshing when we are led to gatherings in Him. Otherwise, it becomes just another thing that is required of us.
Yes, we are directed not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The idea is to be led to be with others, joined in the spirit and gathering unto Him. When we gather out of fear, duty, or others’ expectations or even requirements, is it truly a blessing to God? Are we to go to every meeting, even when exhausted and resentful in heart? What might the Holy Spirit be leading us to do instead?
Some of us were raised to dutifully go to church every time the door was open. We raise our families in the same manner and it is wonderful training for a child. It does not bring peace and rest, however, if it is merely a religious activity, tradition, or habit, a “supposed to.” We love the genuine worship and honor of God with others but we do not have to gather with others to be with God. As a dear Christian friend once said to me, “Sometimes it is more holy to stay home and rest!”
Jesus only said and did what He saw the Father do. That’s how all the needs and demands presented to Him in His ministry were sorted out. Jesus did not address every need around Him. He certainly did not go to every gathering or activity others asked of Him. He enjoyed fellowship with His disciples, teaching some more deeply of His truths than others. He only took three to the Mount of Transformation:
“About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.
And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not realizing what he was saying.
But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And then a voice came from the cloud, saying,
‘This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!’
And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.” Luke 9:28-36 NASB
We identify with Peter, who immediately wanted to do something for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, but God’s voice stopped him. We do not know what the other disciples thought when these three only were taken by their Master to witness such an incredible thing. We do know, however, that servants of the Lord are capable of resenting others’ callings that appear greater, more honorable, privileged, or exciting than their own portion.
Some would push to hear all about it, even demand that they be included the next time a mountaintop opportunity arose. A few go so far as to insist we are all equal in our calling in the Body, which is not what the scriptures teach. We are to honor each other and our ministry, our service to God, recognizing that every part of the Body of Christ is needed. But there are gifts differing, and a marvelous variety of callings that fit each of God’s own in a unique way.
We more easily recognize when someone has a calling we would never want to be our own. But does jealousy or resentment burn in our hearts when God chooses to elevate someone above what we have been given? We know the disciples—at least some of them—fought for the highest place in the Lord, which only God could grant. Christians can confuse our different gifts and callings as evidence of being unequal, some “better than” while others are “less than.” T
Some fight for their place, to be accepted, and seen by others as equal to everyone else. Some who have been given very public gifts or ministries may forget this as well, taking honor and recognition as their due rather than remaining humble as a servant is to be. Those who are insecure in their own spiritual place in the Lord are stung by this, when it is a matter of the other person’s heart, rather than the differences in calling and ministry.
What a rest that will bring, to be led only by His spirit within us! We are not there yet, but we can have faith to pursue that prize, to enter into such rest as He has. God is a changer of hearts. He invites us to be a part of showing forth His rest as He builds faith for it now. We rest in His hands as He does His work within and without. We are learning to be led only by His spirit:
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:14-15 NASB
There is definitely a difference between slavery, which is bondage, and sonship, which brings freedom. Those called to sonship are sons and daughters of God, promised kingly authority, and servant-priests to others. Such is the qualification for being sons and daughters of God, joined with Father God, led only by His spirit. Sons and daughters led by God come to God as our Father, not in the fear of a slave to a master. It is the work of Jesus to bring us to the Father through Him. As we experience God as our Father, we learn to rest in Him.
There is always more to learn about being led by the Lord in everything. Our Lord Jesus is the perfect model of a faithful and true Son. We read many times about how He sought time with His Father as He fulfilled His ministry. So we, too, seek time with God our Father. Prayer is a conversation with God about any of our concerns. But we can even be burdened down and unfruitful in prayer when we haven’t been taught how to pray as led by the spirit.
Without the spirit’s leading, prayer becomes automatic, repetitive, and perhaps even laborious. We sometimes fall asleep in the middle of it, too! Of course, we can bring any prayer or concern to Him, that’s not an issue. But when we automatically pray for whatever someone asks us to pray for without godly discernment, or for what makes sense in our own minds for the situation, it becomes unnecessary or even unproductive: “Pray for me to get this job. Pray that I will recover from this illness. Pray that God will give me a…(spouse, child, new house, prosperity, etc.” These are all good and needful things, worthy of intercession for others. God is absolutely able to do all of them and they are valid requests.
But what if God’s intent in the matter differs from the obvious need presented to us for intercession? The Lord does provide discernment about how to specifically pray to those who ask Him for it. Perhaps He leads us to pray that someone accepts their single status or waits longer before a job comes through. One time when interceding for another at their request, God clearly told me “I will heal their broken heart when it is given to me.” Well, I surely could not do that part for another! As an intercessor, it is a work in progress to learn to pray according to His will.
There are clearly some things we cannot do for another. God is the healer of broken hearts when humans do the unspeakable to other humans. What happens to innocent children is most painful and difficult to understand. Regardless, each of us has to surrender our own hearts and our own will. We take our life of prayer and intercession to a higher level when we wait upon the Lord to pray according to His will.
It brings a rest when we know we are praying, in words or in spiritual utterances only understood by God. This is the way the Lord would have us pray and includes revealing issues in the heart in need of intercession. Prayer is not just a one-sided conversation of talking to God. It is also listening to Him. It takes time walking with the Lord to hear His voice, to converse with Him.
Sadly, a number of Christians don’t believe that God directly talks to anyone, that no one really hears the Lord talking to them in their inner being. They only know one-sided prayer requests. Yes, there are answers in the Word, as illuminated by His light of understanding. But there are also answers that rise up within us. There are answers about anything we need from the Lord to walk in His specific path of life for each of us. We can learn to be tuned to the right spiritual “channel,” to hear Him without the static of our soul.
Our thoughts, will and emotions cloud what God is telling us, but His still, small voice becomes more clear as we are trained to listen, to have ears to hear what the spirit is saying to us. When we are given discernment about how to pray for another, we have the precious privilege of praying for the root of the matter, whether the person for whom we’re interceding knows it or not. God may direct us to keep that to ourselves, just like Peter, John, and James did, never talking about what they experienced with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Early on, when ministering to others, God told me, “Don’t tell all you know.” Jesus surely did not. Some of us have lots of words, not all of which are edifying and in season. He was teaching me discernment about what to share and not share, when to use words and when to wait in silence. I am still learning that! We can rest in the truth that God desires us to hear Him, or He would not have repeatedly told us to!
The Lord can tune out all our fleshly static. He has a multitude of ways to bring His personal word to us. Saints testify of reading His word and the answer, the truth, the comfort, and the wisdom sought are right there, leaping out of the page. We may find ourselves singing a song in which we recognize an answer to our petitions. And it is not always a spiritual song through which He speaks! During a very busy time early in my life, God brought this line from a song, “Stop and smell the roses…” and it was just what I needed.
To the sincere and willing heart, He makes a way. We can trust that! There is not one time when we are desperate to hear Him. He knows we need to get His wisdom and direction, so He responds but not always in the time frame we’d prefer. Often the best answers require waiting on the Lord. We can wait in impatience, fear, or distress or in peace and gratitude that He will answer according to His will in Christ Jesus. As we walk and learn of our Lord daily, our relationship with Him, like with all those we love, deepens in understanding.
He already understands all about us and loves us just the same and He promises to reveal Himself to those who love Him. This is our greatest need, above all seeking Him in His kingdom of righteousness within. It’s what that long-ago Mary was seeking at His feet. The Lord said to sit at His feet is the only true need. It’s about the heart-to-heart relationship that the Father longs to have with His children, made possible by Jesus our Savior.
It is just like it is with humans we love. The more time we spend with someone we love, the more mutual understanding we gain. We rest ourselves in God while He does His work within us. He is our peace:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” Ephesians 3:14-16 Berean