Some people are afraid of failure so they are passive. People with perfectionist issues often deal with this struggle. Unable to take charge of their decisions, they feel all bad, self-condemned, and a total failure when they make a mistake. Fearing failure again, they rarely take risks to try something new, or go deeper into relationships.
Different kinds of failure: There is a false guilt of failure because of a wrong view of success. Right from the beginning, Isaiah, after seeing the Lord high and lifted up, after confessing his own sin and that of his nation, and after saying, “Here am I, send me,” God sent him to preach to a people who would not listen and told him so beforehand (see Isaiah 6:8-10). In the eyes of people, he was a failure, but not in God’s eyes. There is another class of failure; those who mistakenly believe they are successes. These believers may earn an honest living and be fine supporters of the church. They unconsciously (or sometimes all too consciously) consider themselves examples for others to follow. Yet they do not realize that from God’s perspective they are failures (see Proverbs 16:5). One man put it this way: “I climbed the ladder of success only to discover that my ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.”
Failure is your friend: One of the first steps to overcoming the fear of failure is seeing failure as your friend. See failures as lessons for growth and change. Understand that failures remind us of the consequences of our decisions. Failures remind us of what can happen, they can make us careful, but they should not be allowed to paralyze us. Next, recognize that our failures show us what we should and should not do; they become lessons in where we went wrong and why It can help us avoid the same mistake twice if we will learn from history.
When you fail: Acknowledge your failures and refuse to hide behind any excuses. Confess any sin to God when sin is involved. Study or examine what happened so you can learn from failure. Put it behind you and move ahead (1 John 1:9; Philippians. 3:13). Being assured of God’s forgiveness, we are to put our failures behind us, count on and rest in His forgiveness, and refuse to use them as an excuse, self-pity, depression, and fear of moving on for the Lord. We can grow through failure and we can know and act on certain truths; we are accepted in the Lord on the basis of grace, not our performance. We are human and, as a result, we are not now perfect nor will we ever be. God still has a plan for our lives. God is not through with us yet, and we need to get on with His plan.
Purpose in failure: Whether caused by sin or by the many things that can happen beyond our control, all failure teaches us the important truth of just how desperately we need God and His mercy and grace in our lives. God is adequate for all kinds of failure. Sometimes our failures are mirrors of reproof, but they can become tools for growth and deeper levels of trust and commitment to God if we will respond to them as such rather than rebel and become hardened through the difficulty. Regardless, God has made more than adequate provision for us in Christ and His finished work on the cross, which is the sole basis of our relationship and forgiveness with God and our means of a meaningful and productive life with Him. How are you learning and growing from your failures?
May 30, 2012
May 24, 2012
The Problem with Passivity
Many people struggle with actively pursuing spiritual growth: they are passive and not active. Allowing life to just happen or, reacting to others rather than taking the initiative, they are taking a passive role. Passivity is described as submissive, powerless, not working or operating, unresisting and receptive. Passivity yields no interest or return. If a tree does not bear fruit, then passivity is a result or symptom to a root cause, or greater issue like fear or denial.
Passivity and dependency don’t mix: Passive people who also have dependency needs often have difficulty growing. They desire and value relationship and support, which is a good thing, but they seek it only for connectedness, comfort, or safety. They are less able to use relationships as the fuel to solve problems, take risks, or execute responsibilities. Some people with passive, dependent tendencies will initially come alive when they join a growth group, because they receive support for, and acceptance of, their struggles. They become attached in very good ways to the members of the group, however the closeness becomes an end to itself. They do not make significant progress in confronting problems, learning new ways of relating, repenting of old ways, and so on. They use the love they receive to protect themselves from life rather than to engage fully in life.
Passivity in the Bible: God addresses passivity as a problem, not a virtue. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the master gives money to three servants before leaving town. Two servants actively invest their money while the third passively buries his in the ground. Upon returning to town, the master rebukes the third, saying, “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mathew 25:27-29). The master was hard on the third servant because he received no return on his investment. God gives us time, talent, and treasures in life to glorify Him in many ways, and He holds us responsible for them: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” (Hebrews 10:38).
Passivity is not faith: Some Bible teachers believe that doing your part is a danger to spirituality. They believe that when we are active, we are not trusting God and that it is far better to wait on Him often quoting “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). While we are to trust God and believe in His promises, we are also to exercise our faith: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead” (James 2:17) and also “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). The Bible does teach that there is a time to stop striving and to listen to His voice. While the Bible is full of stories of people who encountered God in numerous and miraculous ways, these same people were also very active, involved, and working. Their lives were full of effort and work. They were people who experienced the holiness and mysteries of God, had deep relational connections with others, and lived actively in the real world.
Relationship is the priority: Relationship is always more important than task. That was the message Jesus told Martha when she was too busy and complained about Mary (see Luke 10:38-42). Activity is not bad in itself: it is bad when it takes the place of relationship rather than serving the purpose of the relationship. How is passivity slowing growth in your important relationships?
Passivity and dependency don’t mix: Passive people who also have dependency needs often have difficulty growing. They desire and value relationship and support, which is a good thing, but they seek it only for connectedness, comfort, or safety. They are less able to use relationships as the fuel to solve problems, take risks, or execute responsibilities. Some people with passive, dependent tendencies will initially come alive when they join a growth group, because they receive support for, and acceptance of, their struggles. They become attached in very good ways to the members of the group, however the closeness becomes an end to itself. They do not make significant progress in confronting problems, learning new ways of relating, repenting of old ways, and so on. They use the love they receive to protect themselves from life rather than to engage fully in life.
Passivity in the Bible: God addresses passivity as a problem, not a virtue. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the master gives money to three servants before leaving town. Two servants actively invest their money while the third passively buries his in the ground. Upon returning to town, the master rebukes the third, saying, “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mathew 25:27-29). The master was hard on the third servant because he received no return on his investment. God gives us time, talent, and treasures in life to glorify Him in many ways, and He holds us responsible for them: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” (Hebrews 10:38).
Passivity is not faith: Some Bible teachers believe that doing your part is a danger to spirituality. They believe that when we are active, we are not trusting God and that it is far better to wait on Him often quoting “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). While we are to trust God and believe in His promises, we are also to exercise our faith: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead” (James 2:17) and also “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). The Bible does teach that there is a time to stop striving and to listen to His voice. While the Bible is full of stories of people who encountered God in numerous and miraculous ways, these same people were also very active, involved, and working. Their lives were full of effort and work. They were people who experienced the holiness and mysteries of God, had deep relational connections with others, and lived actively in the real world.
Relationship is the priority: Relationship is always more important than task. That was the message Jesus told Martha when she was too busy and complained about Mary (see Luke 10:38-42). Activity is not bad in itself: it is bad when it takes the place of relationship rather than serving the purpose of the relationship. How is passivity slowing growth in your important relationships?
May 17, 2012
The Tasks of Growth
Growth is not passive. It requires much effort, but the results are always worth it. It is important to understand what is needed to promote and further develop your own spiritual growth. The following tasks are required as we actively seek out the heart of God:
Humble yourself: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Humility is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." Humility helps you assume a position of need, dependency, and obedience, which allows God to best support your growth. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is knowing you yourself desperately require forgiveness as the greatest of all needs.
Seek reality and truth: Our tendency is to avoid pain and not rock the boat, yet the spiritual person stays on a quest for growth. Take the initiative to get information about your issues from God and others. You need to find where you are weak, broken, or immature. Ask God to search you (Psalm 139:23-24), using His presence, truth, circumstances, or other people. Be aware of the tendency to minimize the seriousness of your condition; wanting to appear like you, “have it all together”. Growth requires risk. Be vulnerable and ask for feedback from others. Do not wait for change to happen. Take the initiative to face what you have been afraid to know.
Bring your heart to relationship: Being emotionally present requires action. It takes work to keep your heart available and vulnerable. The tendency is to withhold or protect. Yet the fruit of growth comes from when you let others inside: “We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As fair exchange, I speak as to my children, open wide your hearts also” (2Corinthians 6:12-13). Face the hurt and pain. With the love and support of God and others, experience the realities of your past, your sins, and your hurts. Bring these into relationship so they can be grieved, accepted, repented of, and comforted.
Confession and repentance: Confession is simply "owning" our negative thoughts and emotions and acknowledging that what we have thought or done, either ignorantly or knowingly, has quenched God's Spirit in us. Because it's sin, we must confess "ownership" of it. Repenting is simply choosing to turn around from following what our negative thoughts and emotions are telling us and instead, choosing to follow whatever God has shown us. Repenting means we are to stop looking at and pointing to the other person and begin looking at and pointing to ourselves. This critical step of confession and repentance is our own responsibility. As 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This is the step, however, that many of us have left out when we have given things over to the Lord. Certainly, we've given our hurts to God, but most of the time, we've forgotten to admit our own part in the problem. And this is why so many of the things we've surrendered to the Lord often do come back. If we don't do our part of confessing and repenting of our sin and self, God is hindered from doing His-taking our sins away "as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)."
Humble yourself: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Humility is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." Humility helps you assume a position of need, dependency, and obedience, which allows God to best support your growth. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is knowing you yourself desperately require forgiveness as the greatest of all needs.
Seek reality and truth: Our tendency is to avoid pain and not rock the boat, yet the spiritual person stays on a quest for growth. Take the initiative to get information about your issues from God and others. You need to find where you are weak, broken, or immature. Ask God to search you (Psalm 139:23-24), using His presence, truth, circumstances, or other people. Be aware of the tendency to minimize the seriousness of your condition; wanting to appear like you, “have it all together”. Growth requires risk. Be vulnerable and ask for feedback from others. Do not wait for change to happen. Take the initiative to face what you have been afraid to know.
Bring your heart to relationship: Being emotionally present requires action. It takes work to keep your heart available and vulnerable. The tendency is to withhold or protect. Yet the fruit of growth comes from when you let others inside: “We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As fair exchange, I speak as to my children, open wide your hearts also” (2Corinthians 6:12-13). Face the hurt and pain. With the love and support of God and others, experience the realities of your past, your sins, and your hurts. Bring these into relationship so they can be grieved, accepted, repented of, and comforted.
Confession and repentance: Confession is simply "owning" our negative thoughts and emotions and acknowledging that what we have thought or done, either ignorantly or knowingly, has quenched God's Spirit in us. Because it's sin, we must confess "ownership" of it. Repenting is simply choosing to turn around from following what our negative thoughts and emotions are telling us and instead, choosing to follow whatever God has shown us. Repenting means we are to stop looking at and pointing to the other person and begin looking at and pointing to ourselves. This critical step of confession and repentance is our own responsibility. As 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This is the step, however, that many of us have left out when we have given things over to the Lord. Certainly, we've given our hurts to God, but most of the time, we've forgotten to admit our own part in the problem. And this is why so many of the things we've surrendered to the Lord often do come back. If we don't do our part of confessing and repenting of our sin and self, God is hindered from doing His-taking our sins away "as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)."
May 9, 2012
Growth requires action
When we grow spiritually we perform many tasks. Exploring the depths of our souls and facing the truth about ourselves can be hard and sometimes very scary work. This work requires love and support from God and others. Love is a motivator. Love is the fuel for growth. Energized by those who care for us, we are able to carry out these tasks. The following areas are the stuff of growth that requires action, activity, partnership, or some initiative on your part:
Reconciliation verses fairness: An active stance towards growth requires we give more consideration and action to reconciliation than to fairness. Rather than waiting for the other person who has hurt us to come make repentance, we need to take the initiative to reconcile because some people are not even aware of their actions and attitudes, much less failing to take responsibility for it. If someone has something against us, we are to go to him (Matthew 5:23-24). If we have something against another, we are also to go to him (Matthew 18:15). God is always our role model: He searched us out and solved our problem of alienation from Him even though He would have been justified if He had not taken any action towards redeeming us. God gave up His demand for fairness for the sake of relationship. Grace interrupts the cycle of sowing and reaping, and the law of cause and effect.
Ownership and responsibility: Many people do not take responsibility for their own lives. They remain stuck because they want other people to change. They want other people to make it better but usually those people will not. As a result, they are in bondage to them. Freedom comes from taking responsibility. When we are active in our growth, we are more likely to take ownership and responsibility for our lives. The experience of being involved, learning, gaining understanding, taking risks, and opening up to others about our lives, increases the level of ownership we have in the process. When people are passive about their growth, they tend to let others control them and see forces outside of themselves as being the ones in charge of their lives. The more you own your life and take responsibility for your growth, the more things change for the better. When we fail to take responsibility, we are in bondage. Bondage comes from giving responsibility away to those who do not have our best interest such as an abuser or controller.
Learning from failure: Being active in your own growth requires some risk. We risk making mistakes and failure. When people seek to grow spiritually, they soon realize that they will be trying new ways of relating to God and others, ways based on grace and truth. These new ways offer more of the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). Our old ways of life might have been more comfortable, but they were often based on fear or habit, rather than faith in God and His ways. Yet the fact that new ways are new can be unsettling. Like Abraham, who when he was “called to go to a place he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8), people discover new thoughts, feelings, and other parts of themselves. They don’t know much about them at first, so inevitably will make mistakes and errors. Growth requires risks and mistakes. God’s grace and the comfort of the body of believers will help you to hold up and bear the weight of those risks and failures so you may learn many things from them.
Reconciliation verses fairness: An active stance towards growth requires we give more consideration and action to reconciliation than to fairness. Rather than waiting for the other person who has hurt us to come make repentance, we need to take the initiative to reconcile because some people are not even aware of their actions and attitudes, much less failing to take responsibility for it. If someone has something against us, we are to go to him (Matthew 5:23-24). If we have something against another, we are also to go to him (Matthew 18:15). God is always our role model: He searched us out and solved our problem of alienation from Him even though He would have been justified if He had not taken any action towards redeeming us. God gave up His demand for fairness for the sake of relationship. Grace interrupts the cycle of sowing and reaping, and the law of cause and effect.
Ownership and responsibility: Many people do not take responsibility for their own lives. They remain stuck because they want other people to change. They want other people to make it better but usually those people will not. As a result, they are in bondage to them. Freedom comes from taking responsibility. When we are active in our growth, we are more likely to take ownership and responsibility for our lives. The experience of being involved, learning, gaining understanding, taking risks, and opening up to others about our lives, increases the level of ownership we have in the process. When people are passive about their growth, they tend to let others control them and see forces outside of themselves as being the ones in charge of their lives. The more you own your life and take responsibility for your growth, the more things change for the better. When we fail to take responsibility, we are in bondage. Bondage comes from giving responsibility away to those who do not have our best interest such as an abuser or controller.
Learning from failure: Being active in your own growth requires some risk. We risk making mistakes and failure. When people seek to grow spiritually, they soon realize that they will be trying new ways of relating to God and others, ways based on grace and truth. These new ways offer more of the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). Our old ways of life might have been more comfortable, but they were often based on fear or habit, rather than faith in God and His ways. Yet the fact that new ways are new can be unsettling. Like Abraham, who when he was “called to go to a place he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8), people discover new thoughts, feelings, and other parts of themselves. They don’t know much about them at first, so inevitably will make mistakes and errors. Growth requires risks and mistakes. God’s grace and the comfort of the body of believers will help you to hold up and bear the weight of those risks and failures so you may learn many things from them.
May 5, 2012
The Bible: One Library of Living Truth
The Bible is more than just a collection of 66 independent books, sewn together into one big book. The Bible is more of a library, a unit of books that fits together into a perfectly harmonious system of thought revolving around a single theme: salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Like any library, it has certain divisions and distinct topics, but everything fits into the central theme.
The Name: The term “Bible” is used to represent the Holy Scriptures that were originally given by God, and copies of which have been preserved down through the centuries. The term “Bible” never actually appears in the pages of scripture. The name “Bible” derives from the Greek term biblion, or biblos, a name given to the fibrous coat or bark of the papyrus reed, a substance from which ancient scrolls were made. The plural form, biblia, came to mean “writings” or “rolls”, a destination for the rolled-up scrolls so common in ancient times. Biblion (used 34 times in the New Testament) is typically translated either “book(s)” or “scroll(s)”. In those days Scripture was written on scrolls and as they were read, they were rolled out of one hand and into the other. Scrolls measured up to thirty feet in length.
The Divisions: Although the Bible is one single unit, 66 book library, with one central theme, God has given us this Book in two divisions or “testaments”. The term “testament” means “covenant” or arrangement between two parties. God’s old covenant was made with Moses and His people, the Jews (Exodus 24:7-8), and His new covenant with His family, the church (Hebrews 10:8-17). The relationship between the two covenants is “the Old Testament revealed in the New, the New revealed in the Old, and in the Old contained, and the Old is the New explained.” While the Old gathers around Mount Sinai under the law, the New gathers around Calvary under grace. Another way to put it is this: The New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed.
Central Theme: The central theme of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament looks forward to His birth, life and death as it prophetically pictures Him in shadows, types and pictures. The New Testament looks back and sets Him forth in reality, actuality, and truth. The Old Testament predicts His arrival and His death, while the New Testament portrays and explains Him in complete fulfillment. Luke recorded where Jesus made it clear that He was the Messiah, the One foretold in the whole Old Testament: “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all Scripture concerning Himself (Luke 24:26-27). Book by book, you will find Jesus is the person of Christ enfolded into each in one form or another. In Exodus, He is the Passover lamb (12:1-14). In Leviticus He is the atoning sacrifice (17:11). In Judges He is our deliverer. In Job He is our redeemer. In Matthew He is the King. In Mark the Servant, In Luke the Son of Man, in John the Son of God. It isn’t enough for us to understand with our minds that Jesus Christ is the central theme of Scripture. He longs to be the central theme of our lives and to live in our hearts.
The Name: The term “Bible” is used to represent the Holy Scriptures that were originally given by God, and copies of which have been preserved down through the centuries. The term “Bible” never actually appears in the pages of scripture. The name “Bible” derives from the Greek term biblion, or biblos, a name given to the fibrous coat or bark of the papyrus reed, a substance from which ancient scrolls were made. The plural form, biblia, came to mean “writings” or “rolls”, a destination for the rolled-up scrolls so common in ancient times. Biblion (used 34 times in the New Testament) is typically translated either “book(s)” or “scroll(s)”. In those days Scripture was written on scrolls and as they were read, they were rolled out of one hand and into the other. Scrolls measured up to thirty feet in length.
The Divisions: Although the Bible is one single unit, 66 book library, with one central theme, God has given us this Book in two divisions or “testaments”. The term “testament” means “covenant” or arrangement between two parties. God’s old covenant was made with Moses and His people, the Jews (Exodus 24:7-8), and His new covenant with His family, the church (Hebrews 10:8-17). The relationship between the two covenants is “the Old Testament revealed in the New, the New revealed in the Old, and in the Old contained, and the Old is the New explained.” While the Old gathers around Mount Sinai under the law, the New gathers around Calvary under grace. Another way to put it is this: The New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed.
Central Theme: The central theme of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament looks forward to His birth, life and death as it prophetically pictures Him in shadows, types and pictures. The New Testament looks back and sets Him forth in reality, actuality, and truth. The Old Testament predicts His arrival and His death, while the New Testament portrays and explains Him in complete fulfillment. Luke recorded where Jesus made it clear that He was the Messiah, the One foretold in the whole Old Testament: “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all Scripture concerning Himself (Luke 24:26-27). Book by book, you will find Jesus is the person of Christ enfolded into each in one form or another. In Exodus, He is the Passover lamb (12:1-14). In Leviticus He is the atoning sacrifice (17:11). In Judges He is our deliverer. In Job He is our redeemer. In Matthew He is the King. In Mark the Servant, In Luke the Son of Man, in John the Son of God. It isn’t enough for us to understand with our minds that Jesus Christ is the central theme of Scripture. He longs to be the central theme of our lives and to live in our hearts.
May 2, 2012
Doing the Work
A passive person lets life happen to them instead of taking hold of life. Being active in your growth is essential to change, growth, and getting results.
God is active: Activity is being energetically involved in an endeavor is part of who God is. God is constantly working on His own agenda and tasks. As Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working” (John 5:17). The Bible tells us God “rested” after He finished creation. The Hebrew word describing His rest is one that refers to completion, not weariness (Genesis 2:2). God never stops His active search to love and help those who want Him. “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God takes the initiative to find and help those who love Him. Activity has to do with the “doing” parts of life as opposed to the “relating” parts. God constructed life to break down basically into those two tasks: work and love.
People are active: Adam and Eve were designed to relate deeply to God and to each other as well as rule and subdue the earth He assigned them. A good life always reflects both work and loving relationships. They are deeply connected emotionally and have jobs, ministries, and hobbies that make life fuller. Spiritual, relational people have meaningful, active lives of purpose.
Activity and love are intertwined: Relationship is not at all passive. Loving God and others is the basic purpose of any good activity. Love motivates to do activity because you want to, not because you have to. Love is the fuel of activity. Love is also purpose and goal of doing things. Be connected emotionally to safe people, open up to them, confess who you are, and receive and give truth and reality to them. Our most important and precious relationships are those in which we have invested a lot of energy.
Spiritual growth requires action: To grow spiritually does not just “happen” to us; it requires a great deal of effort but as we put the time into the process, we will see the fruit and results. This doesn’t mean that we must do it all on our own or that God does it all. Our sanctification is a collaborative effort between both God and us. We have certain tasks, and He has certain tasks including preparing our hearts, setting up the circumstances, and bringing forth results from the growth work. The Bible teaches this partnership this way: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). We work out our salvation, meaning we diligently execute our responsibilities in growth. All the while, in mysterious and often invisible ways, God works in us for His purpose.
Review your life and consider the times you were passive or fearful and missed opportunities God intended for you. Look at the reasons behind these and begin to work on them. What areas of your life may require additional focus and effort to get the results you desire?
God is active: Activity is being energetically involved in an endeavor is part of who God is. God is constantly working on His own agenda and tasks. As Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working” (John 5:17). The Bible tells us God “rested” after He finished creation. The Hebrew word describing His rest is one that refers to completion, not weariness (Genesis 2:2). God never stops His active search to love and help those who want Him. “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God takes the initiative to find and help those who love Him. Activity has to do with the “doing” parts of life as opposed to the “relating” parts. God constructed life to break down basically into those two tasks: work and love.
People are active: Adam and Eve were designed to relate deeply to God and to each other as well as rule and subdue the earth He assigned them. A good life always reflects both work and loving relationships. They are deeply connected emotionally and have jobs, ministries, and hobbies that make life fuller. Spiritual, relational people have meaningful, active lives of purpose.
Activity and love are intertwined: Relationship is not at all passive. Loving God and others is the basic purpose of any good activity. Love motivates to do activity because you want to, not because you have to. Love is the fuel of activity. Love is also purpose and goal of doing things. Be connected emotionally to safe people, open up to them, confess who you are, and receive and give truth and reality to them. Our most important and precious relationships are those in which we have invested a lot of energy.
Spiritual growth requires action: To grow spiritually does not just “happen” to us; it requires a great deal of effort but as we put the time into the process, we will see the fruit and results. This doesn’t mean that we must do it all on our own or that God does it all. Our sanctification is a collaborative effort between both God and us. We have certain tasks, and He has certain tasks including preparing our hearts, setting up the circumstances, and bringing forth results from the growth work. The Bible teaches this partnership this way: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). We work out our salvation, meaning we diligently execute our responsibilities in growth. All the while, in mysterious and often invisible ways, God works in us for His purpose.
Review your life and consider the times you were passive or fearful and missed opportunities God intended for you. Look at the reasons behind these and begin to work on them. What areas of your life may require additional focus and effort to get the results you desire?
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