Dear Friends,
Strive?
Or be still?
Which is biblical?
At the end of Colossians 1, after describing the ministry to which God has called him, the Apostle Paul says “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29).
Striving and toiling characterized Paul’s life and ministry. As describing the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to Peter, to the other apostles, to five hundred witnesses, to His half-brother James, and finally to Paul himself, he said about himself “I worked harder than any of them” (1 Corinthians 15:10–11). When he exhorted his young protégé Timothy to train himself to be godly, he added “to this end we toil and strive” (1 Timothy 4:10).
But aren’t there also biblical commands to rest? God rested after his work of creation was finished. He created human beings to need rest to function, and then commanded that we have a day of rest each week as well. He leads his followers to places where they can find rest for their souls, in green pastures and beside still waters. Isaiah counsels his own heart to “be still” – a Hebrew phrase sometimes translated as “cease striving.” Did the Apostle Paul somehow overlook those verses in his Old Testament? Or did he think maybe Isaiah was a slacker?
Which is it? Do are we to toil and strive? Or are we to rest?
I think it’s both.
Here’s how I understand these seemingly contradictory commands in scripture, and how I try to apply them in my life.
First, I recognize that there is a difference between passivity and rest. I can drift into passivity and indifference towards the things of God just as easily as the next person. Passivity involves knowing the right action to take and choosing instead to either do something different or nothing at all. When the Bible calls us to rest, this is not what It’s calling us to.
Second, God has promised to give us the strength we need to toil and strive as we ought. Paul makes this clear when he talks about his own toil, which he says he does “struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me “(Colossians 1:29). Our service for Christ, we are told is not to be undertaken in our own strength. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord God of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). In our weakness, His power is perfected.
Third, there is a time for both striving and for rest. There is a time for every purpose under heaven. God makes all things beautiful in His time. So when it’s time to strive, do it. When it’s time to rest, be still.
Fourth, while I strive to serve Christ faithfully, I rest in the assurance that the outcome of my striving is His responsibility. Someone has said we ought to work as though the outcome depends on us and pray as though the outcome depends on God. In doing so, we are striving to serve while resting in His providence.
Finally, I know that one of these two spiritual practices comes more easily to me than the other. It’s often easier for me to strive than to rest. Waiting on the Lord can be harder for me than trying to help Him out and hurry things along a bit. So knowing which way I am most prone to lean, I have to discipline myself to do what comes less naturally. I have to tell myself to slow down and rest.
You may be the opposite. Maybe instead of striving, you are more prone to doing a little light spiritual lifting and calling it a day. If that’s the case, you should probably discipline yourself to add some reps or weight to your spiritual workouts.
Strive. Go hard. And then go just as hard when it’s time to be still.
At least that’s how I’m trying to follow the Lord’s commands in my life.
Keep in mind that this Sunday is a special day for our church. We’ll be celebrating at the end of our worship service as three people make a public profession of faith and follow the Lord’s command to be baptized. And we’ll follow those baptisms with a pulled pork potluck!
Don’t forget to bring some food you can share! Here are the details.
As summer begins to wind down and school starts back up, it’s time to get some activities on the calendar for this fall. You can check out all of our plans for fall by downloading or printing a copy of our fall events calendar (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=0d0c7a1143&e=fbb0a4052b). Or you can pick up your copy at church on Sunday.
Our Roots Student Ministry gets underway this week. We have a lot planned for students in the months ahead.
AWANA kicks off on Wednesday, August 28. Are your kids registered yet? Click here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=e502db0769&e=fbb0a4052b) to sign the kids up NOW!
We believe one of the best ways for folks in our church to connect with one another and grow together in Christ is by being involved in a small group. Our groups meet each week, usually in people’s homes. And as the groups start back up again this fall, it’s the perfect time for those who have not been a part of a group to check them out.
Here’s a list of group leaders and times when their group meets. By visiting a group, you’re not committing to join. You’re just checking things out. So why not plan to give a couple of groups at try this fall. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Men – there are some key dates below for you to have on your calendar.
First, we are beginning something new for all men this fall. We’re calling it the Redeemer Men’s Institute. The goal is to help men assess their individual personal strengths and weaknesses related to spiritual leadership, and to help us all select an area or two where we can begin to intentionally pursue growth.
The RMI will meet once a month, with our first gathering happening on Thursday, September 12. Every man is welcome. I hope you’ll plan on it.
In addition to the Redeemer Men’s Institute this fall, there are a couple of Bible studies happening for men. On Tuesdays at noon, Matt Gurney is lead a study in the Book of Acts.
And on Fridays every other week, Jim McMurry will be helping lead what we call our “gunlap” group – men 60+ (or thereabouts) – who are also going through Acts.
On Saturday morning, September 28, plan to join with other men at church for our fall men’s breakfast.
There are a few events happening for the women in our church this fall as well. First, on Monday September 9, there’s a great time of fellowship planned for all the ladies in the church (Click here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=92bf65714d&e=fbb0a4052b) to register or for more info):
Then, the fall Women’s Bible Study begins the week of September 16. The ladies this fall will be going through the Gospel of Mark. Again, click here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=712b7caac2&e=fbb0a4052b) if you’re ready to sign up or you’d like to find out more.
For those of you who are interested in knowing more about what we are and what we believe as a church, we have a church membership weekend coming up next month. Spend a Friday night and Saturday morning with us to find out more about Redeemer.
Whew! That's a lot going on!
As I shared last week, we’re pausing our ongoing study in Revelation this week to begin a series where we’ll examine what spiritual maturity looks like and how we can be striving (there’s that word again!) to grow in godliness as a follower of Christ. I trust that’s the goal for all of us. And as we’ll see this seek, it all begins with us understanding what it looks like to be a true worshipper.
See you in church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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