Come to me . . . take my yoke . . . learn from me . . .
pray without ceasing . . . go and make disciples . . .
study to show yourself approved . . .
watch . . . worship . . .
The list could go on and on. In fact, the list does go on and on. Simple words of instruction that call us to that deeper life. Tasks that are understandable and tasks that could be easily done - but tasks that seem to give us fits.
Why is it so hard to follow these simple instructions from Jesus? Do we hesitate because we doubt his wisdom? Or are we afraid that the result of our obedience will not be worth the effort?
Interesting questions.
Why is it so hard to follow these simple instructions from Jesus? Do we hesitate because we doubt his wisdom? Or are we afraid that the result of our obedience will not be worth the effort?
Interesting questions.
Not too long ago I discovered that the interior light in my car was not working. The bulb had burned out. So I set out on the mission of replacing that tiny bulb. It turned into quite an ordeal. The first store I went to did not have that particular bulb. The second store that I visited had recently closed and relocated. The next store was closed on Mondays. As the day went on, I got more and more frustrated. The more frustrated I got, however, the more committed I was to completing my task. What had started out as a simple errand became a day-long quest.
Finally I found the bulb. The clerk first told me that his store had none in stock, but then he found the exact bulb in a junk box of odds and ends behind the counter.
During my search, I just about decided that replacing the bulb wasn't worth the effort. Of course, it was broad daylight when I thought that. That very night, after replacing the bulb, I understood how crucial it was to have a working interior light.
Here's my point: I had to work ridiculously hard for such a small gain. It was just a light bulb! But, in truth, it wasn't a small gain. It was important. So important, in fact, that I couldn't simply ignore the need.
That's how it is as we walk with Jesus too. Learning how to pray . . . or to worship . . . or to share our faith . . . or to develop intimacy with the Lord . . . that all seems so hard. We wonder if it's worth the effort. We grow tired of working at it. We begin to believe that the possible gain just isn't worth all that effort. And we are tempted to give up, to stop trying, to invest our energy in "more productive" pursuits.
What we don't realize when we do that is that the possible gain justifies all the effort in the world.
We feel that we're working hard for small gains - when it turns out that we're really working hard for treasures of eternal worth.
Finally I found the bulb. The clerk first told me that his store had none in stock, but then he found the exact bulb in a junk box of odds and ends behind the counter.
During my search, I just about decided that replacing the bulb wasn't worth the effort. Of course, it was broad daylight when I thought that. That very night, after replacing the bulb, I understood how crucial it was to have a working interior light.
Here's my point: I had to work ridiculously hard for such a small gain. It was just a light bulb! But, in truth, it wasn't a small gain. It was important. So important, in fact, that I couldn't simply ignore the need.
That's how it is as we walk with Jesus too. Learning how to pray . . . or to worship . . . or to share our faith . . . or to develop intimacy with the Lord . . . that all seems so hard. We wonder if it's worth the effort. We grow tired of working at it. We begin to believe that the possible gain just isn't worth all that effort. And we are tempted to give up, to stop trying, to invest our energy in "more productive" pursuits.
What we don't realize when we do that is that the possible gain justifies all the effort in the world.
We feel that we're working hard for small gains - when it turns out that we're really working hard for treasures of eternal worth.
What if a deep intimacy with God would change our lives -
and what if prayer happened to be the key to that treasure?
How much energy would we invest in learning to pray?
How much time would we spend actually praying?
What if we could experience profound peace
by learning to come away and spend time with Jesus?
How much energy would we invest in learning
how to be still in his presence?
How much time would we choose
to spend with him?
What if all of his instructions really are for our own good?
What if Jesus knows what he's talking about?
How much of ourselves would we invest
so that we might experience the kind of life that he has in mind for us?
and what if prayer happened to be the key to that treasure?
How much energy would we invest in learning to pray?
How much time would we spend actually praying?
What if we could experience profound peace
by learning to come away and spend time with Jesus?
How much energy would we invest in learning
how to be still in his presence?
How much time would we choose
to spend with him?
What if all of his instructions really are for our own good?
What if Jesus knows what he's talking about?
How much of ourselves would we invest
so that we might experience the kind of life that he has in mind for us?
Hard work for small gains? Hardly! The fulness of the life that he invites us to enjoy justifies any possible cost.
Simple instructions . . . quite easily done . . . but rarely chosen. Maybe we aren't as wise as we think.
It took me an entire day to find a light bulb. What are we willing to invest to experience an intimate walk with Jesus?
Simple instructions . . . quite easily done . . . but rarely chosen. Maybe we aren't as wise as we think.
It took me an entire day to find a light bulb. What are we willing to invest to experience an intimate walk with Jesus?