The Revolution of Restنموونە

REST AS FREEDOM

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul makes an impassioned plea to the believers to avoid the trap of legalism that was beginning to spread among communities of faith. From the account in Acts 15, we know that early church leaders vehemently debated if recent non-Jewish converts to Christianity should be instructed to follow Mosaic law. In the middle of his appeal to the Gentiles of Galatia to reject these expectations Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, NIV).

While legalism is alive and well today, many of us are just as prone to become slaves to a full calendar. This happens for a host of reasons including the pressure to live up to the expectations of others and our misconception that we control the outcome of our obedience to God’s call.

Perhaps Mother Theresa put it best when she said, “God did not call me to be successful, he called me to be faithful.” We don’t have to worry about impressing Jesus. He has called us to obedience, not “results.” And since he loved us first, there is no unmet expectation—real or perceived—that will diminish his love for us.

Jesus was well aware of the expectations of others. He faced constant pressure to be the kind of Messiah the crowds wanted him to be. And when the pressure of the crowds became the most intense, like after he fed the 5,000, he would sneak away as a reminder that he did not serve the masses or their demands, but his Father.

When we let go of always doing and always working, we are free to live in obedience to our call, unburdened by the results. It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free—prioritizing rest in our lives is a reminder of this truth.

REFLECTION:

1. Take an honest look at your calendar and task list; is rest prioritized?
2. What worries you about declining someone’s invitation or request in order to prioritize rest?
3. What prevents you from embracing the freedom that rest offers over being bound by a busy calendar full of things to do?

GUIDED PRAYER:

"Rest as Freedom" was written by Rebecca Guerrero.