We start off on our knees, then we slowly learn to walk and eventually we have the strength and skill to run. Isn’t it much like that in the rest of our lives too? We start out as kids seeing the world in all its beauty, peacefully unaware of the evil it holds, then we slowly learn about what it really is to be human in the world and then when we are old and strong enough, with barley enough skill for what awaits us, we leap out and start running. It seems once we reach this point, once we start running, there is just no slowing down and life can really tire us out sometimes.
It isn’t much different in our walk with God. We start out on our knees, then we learn to walk the talk, and when we are ready, we step out into servanthood where we proclaim the gospel and live to be a reflection of the One who loves us, so that we may become a beacon of light to all whom is lost around us. Even in our walk with Jesus, we get tired sometimes.
We end up running after the truth with a burning passion to make it known and then find ourselves out of breath, not understanding why. There is a saying that goes: don’t get so busy with the things of God, that you forget the God of those things. We get so caught up in everything we think we should be doing, that we almost forget why we are doing it in the first place.
We need a light before we can shine, we need oil for our lamps to keep burning and when our oil runs out, we are left feeling tired and the gospel can almost feel like a heavy burden to carry. Have you been there? I know I have and then we are left feeling ashamed like we are not worthy of His grace.
Sometimes we reach this place and then we keep pushing, hoping that it will pass, but it won’t, you see, nothing you do will keep that light burning, you cannot be a good Christian, your fire, your passion and your fuel does not come from your good works, there is but One source and you need to return to this place where you first found that oil.
We are called to be servants of His Kingdom, but before anything, even when we were still sinners, He called us to be His children. Jesus called you to His feet to listen, to heal and to be loved. Jesus made you His own by the price He paid to have you, so that He could love you eternally and show you His Glory in every step you take in relationship with Him. He gave you the free gift of life and promises to care for you, never leaving your side. He wants to amaze you with His mercy and wonders and nurture you with adoration as you are His own.
We run on empty because we forget, that we ourselves are included in the treasure we share with others, we ourselves need Jesus to fill our cup, because we can feed others only with what overflows from it, our light shines because we have oil, not because we walk around with our lamp. Go back to that place of intimacy with Jesus, go back to the feet of Jesus and just be a child, enjoy Him, bask in His presence, praise Him and stay in worship letting everything else go for the moment and let Him be your God too.
For the race is long and hard, in life and in faith, but Jesus comforts us with this: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
It will be hard, but your journey will be filled with wonders and breath taking moments, you won’t find it in where you take your light to shine, but by the moments you spend filling up, refuelling and resting in the shadow of the Almighty God.
Father, loving merciful Father, we humble ourselves before you today Lord and we thank You for letting us be Your children, what a privilege it is to be called a beloved. Jesus we give You everything today Lord and we ask that You would come and wrap us in Your presence and let us just experience Your goodness again Lord so that where we go, people may desire what we have instead of us just trying to feed them what we know. Jesus You are all we can ever need, there is no name above Your name, there is nothing that can compare. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Miryna van As